21 Feb 2011

Become a Plant Show Stopper

John Stanley

Imagine you are a typical impulse customer who walks into your garden centre plant area; the customer walks around and would subconsciously be looking to find a product that makes them stop.

The customer sees most of the plants displayed in straight rows.  The majority of the plants are unknown to them because 70% of those on sale were not available ten years ago.

 Take a walk around your plant area in your mind and ask yourself how often you would stop and look at a promotional plant.  Be honest with yourself.   Put yourself in the shoes of a typical customer looking for your plant show stoppers.   Alas, many plant managers forget that one of their roles is to stop customers in their tracks.  The result of not stopping the customer is a lower average sale and customers who are not likely to give your garden centre a second chance.

With selling plants becoming more challenging than ever, your Show Stopper Policy is critical to the success of your plant sales area.

Imagine what happens when you have Plant Show Stoppers.  Customers slow down their walking pace, they start to browse shop, then they discover plants they may not have seen before. Your average sale goes up, plus they tell their friends of the experience they have just had and encourage them to do the same.

Customers walk into your planteria and your job is to get them to stop and look at the plants on offer.  Hopefully if you can achieve that they will be enticed into buying other plants on offer.

Your “Plant Show Stopper” strategy is critical if you are to grow your sales beyond 2011.

In our e-training sessions and on our Members Club,  I look at various Show Stopper strategies during the year.  Here is a framework to help you become a Plant Show Stopper Master in your garden centre.

Ask yourself the following questions in preparation for a new spring trading year:

1.  Does all your team know what a “plant show stopper” is and how it affects your business?

My definition of a “plant show stopper” is the space allocation and display in the plant sales area that encourages the majority of your consumers in the plant area to stop and look at the display that has been created. The aim of stopping the customer is to get them to pick the plant up and make a buying decision. Once they have made one buying decision they are more likely to make more purchases.

Does all the team know where the “Plant Show Stopper” locations are in your plant area?

Every store has “plant show stopper” locations. Every outdoor sales area has a power spot selling position in their sales area; it is normally four steps into the plant sales area, once your customer has traversed the transition zone. Every retailer sets up displays that have end cap locations, another area that is a “plant show stopper” location in the plant sales area. Walk the sales area and look at your sightline locations and ask yourself whether these draw the customer through the sales area.

To help you team identify where to locate ‘Plant Show Stoppers” there are a number of video’s on our Members Club to help you with your training.

The number of locations for “plant show stoppers” will vary from centre to centre depending on the size and physical arrangement of the plant sales area, but the key is that all the team are aware of where these locations are and appreciate how important they are to the overall sales in the business.

3 Have you developed a “Plant Show Stopper” display strategy?

Knowing where the locations are is not the key; it is what you do with them that is the real answer and a display plan for the year is critically important. “Plant Show Stoppers” are not about the product, that comes once you have decided what is the message you wish to communicate at the show stopper location. The message can be classified within a number of themed promotional groups. The main show stopper groups used by plant retailers are:

Seasonal: A theme based on the four seasons of the year {in some cultures there are more seasons that can be developed} Creating a display theme around the season provides a message to the consumer that the whole plant centre is changing the merchandise mix.

Colour: Consumers often buy plants on a colour theme and selecting one colour theme for a show stopper is an easy and ideal eye catcher.

Favourites: Consumers like to buy based on opinion and a Favourites plant display can be based on one of the sales team, as an experts favourite range of products, or alternatively a best seller promotion based on consumer buying habits.

Peaks: Christmas, Easter, Mothers Day, Spring and so on are all part of a peak display strategy where the display is build based on a known track record based on consumer demand.

Added Value Solutions: The aim of this display is to sell the solution rather than the plant. It allows you to take plants and other related products from two or more different categories and combine them on a display to provide the right solution for the consumer. I recently saw a fashion show that was displaying shoes, bags and dresses together as the added value solution for the consumer. But, rarely do you see this thinking process in the plant area

Unique Themes: This is where you can let your imagination run wild and develop a theme that is unique to your plant area. It should be a theme that is memorable as the aim is to get your consumer to not only get involved themselves in them, but to promote it to their friends via word of mouth or the social media.

Back to Nature: Consumers are looking to get back to nature and a theme around sustainability and preserving the nature around us is very much in vogue at present. Especially where local flora is involved.

 4.  Is Someone Responsible for Managing the Plant Show Stoppers?

Many “Plant Show Stoppers” do not perform because they are built and then neglected. A plant show stopper needs to be monitored daily. This will only occur if somebody is made accountable for the day to day management of those displays. If they are half empty, untidy or have the wrong product on them these locations will reflect on the image and sales of the whole company.

Establish a plan and make a difference. As I mentioned at the start of this article, 70% of the plants on offer were not around ten years ago, we also have a consumer who has less plant knowledge than in the past. This leads to a marketing opportunity to make a difference in the plant sales area.

John Stanley M.Sc (Horticulture) (CSP) has been called the leading horticultural consultant in the world today by garden centres in the USA. A background teaching perishable retailing in the UK, he is  WA Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 and WA Small Business Champion 2009 Education, was voted 14th of The Power 50 (the 50 most powerful and influential people in British horticulture) in  2008 and 2010.  Email  linda@johnstanley.com.au or visit  www.johnstanley.com.au for information on his Members Club and  how John can help you grow your business.

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18 Feb 2011

Tender for New 4 Wheel Drive Tractor

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17 Feb 2011

Six Horticulture & Landscape Tenders Up for Grabs

Ref: FEB199795
Notice Type: Invitation to Tender
Title: Tender for Grass Cutting/ Hedge Cutting on National Primary / Secondary Routes and City Environs 2011
Published: 17/02/2011
Published by: Limerick County Council
Deadline: 10/03/2011
Full Text: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=FEB199795

Ref: FEB199695
Notice Type: Invitation to Tender
Title: Maintenance,Cleansing & Landscaping Services in Sections of the Public Domain in Dublin Docklands
Published: 17/02/2011
Published by: Dublin Docklands Development Authority
Deadline: 15/03/2011
Full Text: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=FEB199695

Ref: FEB199975
Notice Type: Invitation to Tender
Title: Tender for the Supply of Pesticides & Fertilisers
Published: 17/02/2011
Published by: Galway City Council
Deadline: 17/03/2011
Full Text: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=FEB199975

Ref: FEB199775
Notice Type: Invitation to Tender
Title: Tender for Grass Cutting/ Hedge Cutting & Weedkilling on Motorways & National Dual Carriageways 2011
Published: 17/02/2011
Published by: Limerick County Council
Deadline: 10/03/2011
Full Text: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=FEB199775

Ref: FEB199955
Notice Type: Invitation to Tender
Title: Tender for the Provision of Weed Spraying Services on Roads & Footpaths
Published: 17/02/2011
Published by: Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
Deadline: 15/03/2011
Full Text: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=FEB199955

Ref: FEB199755
Notice Type: Invitation to Tender
Title: Maximising the economic potential of walking tourism in West Cork
Published: 17/02/2011
Published by: West Cork Development Partnership
Deadline: 02/03/2011
Full Text: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=FEB199755

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16 Feb 2011

Fastrack your Garden Designer Career with Super Garden!

Super Garden: Do you have what it takes to exhibit a garden at Bloom 2011?

Super Garden returns to the nations screens in April 2011.  This will be the third series for this popular RTÉ garden design show.

Super Garden is looking for aspiring garden designers to take part in this years series.  Each week, an amateur designer works within a budget and brief to design and create a beautiful garden for one lucky garden owner.  Thus launching the aspiring designer into the world of professional garden design.  Each garden designer will be mentored throughout their Super Garden journey by Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medalist Mary Reynolds.  Throughout this third series, a total of 5 amateur garden designers will be given the opportunity to create their Super Garden.  And an overall winner will be chosen by a judging panel of gardening professionals including Gary Graham - Bloom Project Manager.  The winner will then have their winning design recreated at Bloom 2011.  

Super Garden is a wonderful opportunity for garden design enthusiasts to turn their passion into a business opportunity.  All are welcome to apply to be part of the show.  Super Garden is a fantastic vehicle for newly qualified garden designers, landscape architects and horticulturists to showcase their talent.  

We'd greatly appreciate it if you could spread the word about Super Garden to friends and colleagues who you feel might be suitable candidates, as I'm sure many would welcome the opportunity to demonstrate their creative skills on Super Garden.

The deadline for Super Garden entries from garden designers is Monday 20th February 2011. 

Click below for the Super Garden Designer Application Form.

14 Feb 2011

Over 30 of Irelands Top Nurseries to Exhibit at This Weeks IHNSA Trolley Fair in Naas.

Hennessy's Nurseries

O'Dowd Nurseries

Youngs Nurseries Ltd.

Abbey Nurseries

Rentes Plants Ltd.

Springfield Nurseries

Freestyle Nurseries

Easter Island Alpines

Yellow Furze NurseriesLtd.

Stam’s Bamboo Nursery

Campbell Plants

Woodview Nurseries

Amour Nurseries

Mount Congreve Nursery

Glenbrook Nurseries

Flannery's Nuseries

Hughes Roses Ltd.

Schram Plants Ltd.

Dunne's Nurseries

Dundrum Nurseries

Tully Nurseries

B & V Nurseries

M & M Nursery

Kelly's Nursery Ltd.

Doran Nurseries

Irish Garden Plants

SAP Nurseries

T & M Leahy Ltd.

Derrylea Trees

Oakleaf Nurseries

O'Connor Nurseries

K&M Nurseries

Woodstock Trees & Shrubs.


http://www.expo-events.com/trolleyfairs/index.html

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14 Feb 2011

Airfield Print Workshops - Make your Own Botanical Print

The excellent range of courses continues at Airfield. Aimed at consumer horticulturists but of interest to industry too.
Tutor: Louise Meade
Dates: Thursday 10th March or Saturday 9th April   Time: 10.00 to 1.00     Cost: €35  
These one-off workshops will appeal both to those interested in gardening and art.  The morning begins with our Head Gardener Emer O’Reilly who will lead the group on an exploratory walk and talk through the emerging spring garden. Having selected some natural materials, artist printmaker Louise Meade will guide you through an introductory printmaking session. Each participant leaves with their very own etching. A relaxed and stimulating workshop accessing two of Airfield’s unique resources - its garden and printing studio.  Suitable for complete beginners

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14 Feb 2011

Airfield in Dundrum Launches New Programme of Sustainable Living Courses

Airfield in Dundrum has just launched a new  programme of Sustainable Living Courses -starting in March and running till November. Devised by our director, Kathy Purcell the courses are aimed at people who want to learn how to grow, cook, sew and eat in a more sustainable way and to acquire the skills to do it.

The courses cover a wide variety of subjects including Organic Vegetable Growing, Bee Keeping, Organic Kitchen Garden, Keeping Chickens and Pigs, Cut Flowers, Bread Making—there will also be Botanical Printmaking, Willow and Felting Workshops and How to Build a Cob Oven.

 

Learning the Good Life at Airfield

 “Sustainable Living Courses at Airfield”

 

“It’s not easy being green” as Kermit used to say or rather sing, but here at Airfield we can make it easy for you.  Airfield is a unique place of restoration and beauty, a working farm and formal gardens tucked in the midst of urban Dublin.  Take a look at our range of courses which aim to bring out the Tom and Barbara in you, where you too can begin to live the Good life.

 

Many people want to make themselves more sustainable, for lots of different reasons, they want to save money, they want to learn new skills, or many want to spend time doing things with their family like growing vegetables. But where do you start? Often people are looking for basic starter information, or some want more in depth knowledge, whatever it is Airfield can hopefully help you develop your skills in sustainable living, so get your wellies, as you get to grips with life on the farm at Airfield. www.airfield.ie
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14 Feb 2011

Tender: Supply and Delivery of 1 No. 60 H.P. New Rotary Mower

Tenders are invited from suppliers for the supply and delivery of 1 No. 60 H.P. new Rotary Mower in accordance with the specification and other documentation attached to this notice.

Tenders must be accompanied by the following:-

- Copy of valid Tax Clearance Certificate.

- Delivery Date for receipt of the mower.

- Completed Declaration (as per Article 45 of Directive 2004/18/EC & Regulation 53 S.I. 329 of 2006)

- Details of successful delivery of two previous contracts from the last 5 years of a similar nature, including description, value and delivery dates for the contracts. Please include names, addresses and phone numbers of two organisations that you supplied a similar product to.

- Details on Guarantee/Warranty/After Sales for the mower

- Amount of trade in allowance to be given by you for the following mower :-

RANSOMES HR6010 WITH SAFETY CAB PURCHASED 2006

Ref: FEB199395
Notice Type: Invitation to Tender
Title: Supply and Delivery of 1 No. 60 H.P. New Rotary Mower
Published: 14/02/2011
Published by: Thurles Town Council
Deadline: 08/03/2011
Full Text: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=FEB199395

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14 Feb 2011

IHNSA Trolley Fairs 2011

IHNSA Trolley Fairs 2011
 
Don't miss out on all the latest varieties and suppliers
 
Check the show website on www.trolleyfairs.com regularly for special offers
 
For ticket information please email info@eventhaus.ie or call (01) 8460020 or click here to register online

 

 


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13 Feb 2011

Big Week of Events for Irish Horticulture

The announcement last week that Teagasc are moving ahead with plans for the redevelopment and upgrading of research and education facilities at Ashtown bodes well for our horticulture sector. Add to this the upcoming Bord Bia Awards, GCAI John Stanley Seminar, IHNSA and the NI Growers Trolley Fairs, it hints at an air of positivity from the Development and Representative Associations charged with developing our sector. 

Lets hope that it continues and that the ability and openness of all involved to take on board new ideas such as GardenGuide among other's will continue. Like the general election campaign motto of Mannix Flynn 'Don't do the Same Thing Expecting A Different Result! we all need to embrace and walk the walk of the much used word 'Innovation'. For our part at HortiTrends we will keep the information flowing that will empower your businesses to make decisions on the best and latest info out there. 

So we appeal to business, development and education bodies to build upon the positive work being done and use our web estate to communicate with us all. 
Joseph Blair 
11 Feb 2011

Irish Bioenergy Association – 10th National Bioenergy Conference

IrBEA_Conference_Page_1Irish Bioenergy Association – 10th National Bioenergy Conference

BioEnergy  – Delivering for the Irish Economy

17th February 2010, Heritage Hotel and Conference Centre, Portlaoise, Co. Laois

What Can BioEnergy Deliver for the Irish Economy?

The Irish BioEnergy Association will explore this question with an expert panel of economists, policy makers and industry representatives. BioEnergy is a thriving industry across Europe, and one that Ireland has begun to embrace. In challenging times it is vital to exploit opportunities for job creation, fuel cost savings, enhancing Ireland’s trade balance and in increasing economic activity on the island.

- BioEnergy is expected to create 8,000 jobs by 2020

- 80% of what is spent on bioenergy stays within 50 miles of the customer. 80%+ of what is spent on fossil fuels leaves the country – over €6 Billion every year

It is well recognised that bioenergy holds the best potential to reduce Ireland’s dependency on fossil fuels for heating, as well as providing an excellent source of road fuels and renewable electricity. It is government policy to reduce Ireland’s dependence on imported fuel (85% of primary energy demand) and replace it with renewable sources of fuel. Bioenergy is an imbedded industry providing local jobs and ensuring revenue stays within the economy.

For further information, bookings or trade stands contact Teresa O’Brien 052 6126574.

For conference details, click here…….. www.irbea.org

11 Feb 2011

RHSI’s Wildlife Friendly Gardening at Botanical Gardens

Seminar on Saturday 5th March at the National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin?

 

The RHSI has an exciting day lined up for you, with Niall Hatch (from BirdWatch Ireland) talking about gardening to encourage birds; the very well known ecologist and broadcaster Eanna Ni Lamhna from the Mooney Show talking about beneficial insects; and Ireland’s favourite gardening guru Dermot O’Neill talking about what to plant to attract wildlife to your garden.

 

Seats are going fast and when they’re gone they’re gone – so if you haven’t booked you’d better hurry!. The cost is just €65, including coffee or tea and biscuits at registration (10am-10.30am), and The Garden Catering Company’s delicious home made vegetable soup and a variety of sandwiches, coffee or tea, and something sweet for lunch.

 

Scroll down past the poster for the booking form. Complete and post it with your cheque for €65, crossed and payable to the RHSI, Cabinteely House, The Park, Cabinteely, Dublin 18, OR credit card details phoned to RHSI office. Tues, Wed, Thurs (9.30am-1.30pm). 
info@rhsi.ie
www.rhsi.ie
   
Or ring Brenda on 086 232 5721.

 

Clip_image002

 

Yes please, book me in to the RHSI’s Wildlife Friendly Gardening Seminar on Saturday 5th March 2011 at the National Botanic Gardens. Cheque €65 enclosed.

Name (please print) _________________________________  
email _______________________

 

Address _______________________________________________________________________

 

Telephone (day) ____________________ (pm) ___________________ (mobile) _____________

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10 Feb 2011

$10,000 COMPETITION TO DESIGN NYC'S SIXTH BOROUGH

COMPETITION TO DESIGN NYC'S SIXTH BOROUGH

via Freshkills Park Blog by freshkillspark on 1/21/11

This year’s ONE PRIZE—an annual design and science award to promote green design in cities—is being awarded through a design competition centered around the development of New York City’s “sixth borough,” its bodies of water.  Organized by Terreform 1 and Planetary One, the competition aims to advance the City’s potential to develop the world’s largest urban clean technology corridor along its waterways and water bodies, as well its capacity to host a clean tech world expo in 2014.  Submissions are to make proposals for both a ‘blue’ transportation network—”a series of green transit hubs incorporating electric passenger ferries, water taxis, bike shares, electric car-share and electric shuttle buses”—and one zone of the expo.

In addition to exposure and participation in the Expo, the winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize.  Registration closes April 30th, and Submissions are due May 31st.  More details are available in the competition brief.

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10 Feb 2011

The Green Awards 2011

The new Green Awards 2011 website is up and running! We are delighted to reintroduce the option of online entries for the 2011 Awards, for further information please see the ‘Enter’ page.

There has been great interest in the Awards since it's launch and we thank all of you who have already sent in your entries, and look forward to receiving many more over the coming weeks. Please note the new deadline for entries is Friday, February 25th.

The Green Awards 2011 will take place at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin on Thursday April, 14th.

We'll be in the company once again of the irrepressible Risteard Cooper on the night of the Awards, so both fun and glamour are assured!

The big news stories for us this year:

Online Entries: We have reintroduced online entries for the 2011 Awards. You can now submit your entry for your chosen category(ies) by clicking here.

Criteria and Judging Review: 
Sustainability consultants RealEyes have reviewed the categories, criteria and scoring matrix to develop a robust and best-practice based judging process. For more information click here.

New Categories: This year sees the introduction of new categories; The Waste to Business Resource Award which recognises companies that turn the waste created by one process into a resource which can be used in the creation of new business opportunity, and others to be announced in the coming days. Further information can be found on the Categories and Criteria page.

Thats it for now, if you have any queries just let us know and we will look forward to welcoming you to the 2011 Awards.

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10 Feb 2011

Tender: Glenties Community Playground

Construction of a new local community childrens playground involving the formation of a suitable wearing surface and the supply and installation of playground equipment including swings, roundabouts, multi-play units, perimeter fencing etc.

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10 Feb 2011

Garden Show Ireland

New Dates for 2011!

We are delighted to announce that 

Garden Show Ireland will return to the stunning surroundings of the walled garden at Hillsborough Castle from 20-22 May 2011.

Flowers and specialist plants galore, inspirational ideas for the garden, expert advice and all the tools and machinery to make the job easier, will send green fingered gardeners and budding enthusiasts alike home to their gardens to create their own magic!

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8 Feb 2011

Tender for the Treatment & Recovery of Green Waste Collected at CA Sites in South Cork

Cork County Council (Southern Division) invites tenders for the treatment and recovery of green waste collected from the following locations, situated at:
- Youghal CA Site, Mudlands, Youghal;
- Rossmore CA Site, Carrigtwohill;
- Raffeen CA Site, Monkstown;
- Bandon CA Site, Knockaveale, Bandon; and
- Macroom CA Site, Codrum, Macroom.

A net price for the receipt, treatment, recovery and final end use should be submitted. The price submitted shall include for any contamination found within the material including all associated costs of the disposal of same at landfill, including the applicable Landfill Levy costs. The tendered price will be based on a cost per tonne for acceptance, treatment, processing and recovery of the collected material.
Cork County Council may award a single contract for the entire 5 facilities or separate contracts in respect of one or more sites.
Ref: FEB198076
Notice Type: Invitation to Tender
Title: Tender for the Treatment & Recovery of Green Waste Collected at CA Sites in South Cork
Published: 08/02/2011
Published by: Cork County Council
Deadline: 25/02/2011
Full Text: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=FEB198076

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8 Feb 2011

Tender: Provision of Garden Maintenance Service at Westmeath Garda Division

Ref: FEB197896
Notice Type: Invitation to Tender
Title: RFT for Provision of Garden Maintenance Service at Westmeath Garda Division
Published: 08/02/2011
Published by: An Garda Síochána
Deadline: 10/03/2011
Full Text: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=FEB197896

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8 Feb 2011

Don't do the Same Thing Expecting A Different Result!

HortiTrends has its own in-house web designer and developer working on all our projects. We get asked a lot by companies outside of the Horticulture Sector to create and develop their Websites, Social Media for Business Campaigns & Google Apps. We have always refused but made an exception in the case of Mannix Flynn who is our local independent councillor. He has worked tirelessly to change the system and improve our community. 

What did Mannix ever do for me? Nothing. But he told me and showed me how to do it for myself. I also like his campaign message. Don't do the Same Thing Expecting A Different Result! Maybe we could all learn something from Mannix that will improve our businesses and our sector.
Contact

So for all those companies who we said no to, we are sorry but for all those companies who are lucky enough to be in the Horticulture, Landscape & Fresh Produce Sectors why not give us a call to show you how to get your business working OnlIne. To see what we did for Mannix check out http://votemannixflynn.ie
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8 Feb 2011

Rare Apple Back from Brink

An apple variety so rare there were fewer than 20 trees left has been saved and is finding a new lease of life in a community orchard.

The Doddin tree, found only in Redditch, Worcestershire, has heavy yields of elongated fruit only a little larger than golf balls. They are early and very sweet, eaten whole including the core. The tree had been gradually disappearing from cultivation until a group of people with fond memories of scrumping the apple as children set up the Doddin Preservation Society in 2007 and set about reviving its fortunes.

An appeal in the local papers located several surviving trees, and, with help from local fruit specialist Kevin O'Neill, new stock has been propagated and is now being made available commercially. One of these is the one planted in the community orchard in the Headless Cross district of Redditch, joining several other rarely-grown Worcestershire fruit varieties including the Yellow Egg plum from Evesham and the Worcester Black pear.

The Society is now working towards getting the Doddin more widely recognised and accepted into the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale Farm in Kent.

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8 Feb 2011

Slugs and Snails Knocked Off Top Spot

Slugs and snails have been replaced by viburnum beetle as the number one problem on the 2010 Top 10 garden pests list, according to the Royal Horticultural Society.

The RHS Entomology team, based at RHS Garden Wisley, compile their annual list of garden pests based on enquiries by RHS members to its Advisory Service during the last year.

Damage from the No1 garden pest Viburnum beetle

Viburnum beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) eats the foliage of various viburnums commonly grown in gardens, especially the evergreen shrub Viburnum tinus and the deciduous Viburnum opulus, also known as guelder rose or snowball bush. Adult beetles cause some damage in late summer but it is the grub stage in April-May that can cause severe defoliation.

Principal RHS Entomologist, Andrew Halstead says: ‘’Viburnum beetles are in our top 10 list most years but they do seem to have become more troublesome. The damage to evergreen viburnums is more apparent because it can be seen all year round.’’

RHS members were also concerned about the glasshouse red spider mite, which sucks sap from a wide range of greenhouse and garden plants. Andrew says: ’’The relatively hot dry summer last year meant that red spider mite become more of a problem on outdoor plants. However, a benefit of the dry weather was that it also restricted the activities of slugs and snails which prefer wet, cool weather.’’

The number one plant in terms of pest enquiries in 2010 was grass. This was followed by viburnums, roses, apples, fuchsias, lilies, plums, acers, pears and bay. Lawns are usually the number one problem because they have a wide range of pest problems, although most of the damage is caused by chafer grubs.

Top 10 pests in 2010

  •  1. Viburnum beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni): This pest has been climbing up the Top 10 ranks in recent years and makes the number one spot for the first time. The principal host plants are Viburnum opulusV. lantana and V. tinus but some other Viburnum species may also be attacked. Most of the damage is done by the larvae, which can reduce the foliage to lacework during May-June. The adult beetles also eat the leaves in late summer but less extensive damage occurs at that time. More advice on viburnum beetle
  • 2. Slugs and snails (various species): In most years, slugs and snails are the number one problem in gardens and on allotments. The reduced number of enquiries in 2010 may be due to the long dry spell during the summer. Most damage occurs during spring to autumn, affecting seedlings, many ornamental plants and vegetables, especially potato tubers and narcissus flowers. More advice on slugs and snails
  • =3. Cushion scale (Chloropulvinaria floccifera): This sap-sucking insect occurs on evergreen shrubs, especially camellia, holly, rhododendron, Trachelospermum and Euonymus japonicus. Although long established in Britain, it has become more widespread and troublesome over the last 20 years. It excretes honeydew, causing infested plants to develop a thick black coating of sooty mould on their foliage over the winter months. More advice on cushion scale
  • =3. Chafer grubs in lawns (various species): Chafer grubs are the larvae of several species of chafer beetles. Most of the damage in lawns is caused by grubs of garden chafer (Phyllopertha horticola) and Welsh chafer (Hoplia philanthus), which eat the roots. During autumn to spring other animals, such as foxes, badgers and crows, rip up the loosened turf to feed on the grubs. More advice on chafer grubs 
  • 5. Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis): This foreign ladybird was unknown in Britain until 2004 but has since spread rapidly throughout Britain. It is not a plant pest but causes concern because of its reputation for eating native ladybirds and other aphid predators. Its prey of choice, however, is greenfly and other aphids, so it is of some benefit to gardeners. It can feed on a wide range of other insects when aphids are in short supply but it remains to be seen whether harlequin ladybirds will reduce the numbers of native beneficial insects. Adult harlequin ladybirds are highly variable in appearance, with many different colour forms and variable numbers of spots and other markings. It over-winters as adult beetles and likes to do so inside buildings; this habit helps to bring it to public attention. More about Harlequin ladybirds
  • 6. Vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus): The adult beetles eat notches in the leaf margins of a wide range of herbaceous plants and shrubs. The larvae feed on plant roots, especially those being grown in pots or other containers. It is one of the few pests capable of killing plants and in most years is a top five enquiry. These days, the majority of vine weevil enquiries concern foliar damage by the adult beetles rather than the grub stage. This may reflect the better control options currently available to amateur gardeners for dealing with vine weevil grubs. Another contributing factor is likely to be the establishment and spread of several other Otiorhynchus spp. in Britain in recent years. These cause identical patterns of leaf damage that cannot be separated from that caused by adult vine weevil. More advice on vine weevil
  • 7. Lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii): Although established in England since 1939, this pest of lilies (Lilium spp.) and fritillaries (Fritillaria spp.) did not spread out of the south east counties until the 1980s. It now occurs in all English counties with a more scattered occurrence in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Both the larvae and adults eat the leaves and can cause severe defoliation. More advice on lily beetle
  • 8. Horse chestnut scale (Pulvinaria regalis): This sap-sucking insect occurs on various trees and shrubs, including horse chestnut, sycamore and maples, lime, magnolia and bay trees. It becomes noticeable in early summer, when the mature scales deposit white egg masses on the trunks and larger branches of infested trees. A common and spreading pest, especially on trees growing in streets and other urban situations
  • 9. Glasshouse red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae): A wide range of glasshouse plants and house plants is attacked by this small sap-sucking pest. In late summer, damaging infestations can also build up on garden plants, especially in hot dry summers. Vulnerable plants include cucumber, runner beans, strawberry, raspberry, fuchsia, rose, Brugmansia, Crocosmia, orchids, oleander and dahlia. More advice on Glasshouse red spider mite
  • 10. Ants (mostly Formica and Lasius spp.): Ants are often abundant in sunny gardens with well-drained soils. They cause little direct damage to plants but the soil excavated from their nests can be a nuisance in lawns, on patios and in flower beds where low-growing plants may become partly buried. More advice on ants 
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8 Feb 2011

Teagasc Planning for €3 million Horticultural Research & Education Campus Development at Ashtown

Teagasc are seeking expressions of interest from Architect led integrated Design Teams for a Campus development at Ashtown to include renovotion and reuse of existing facilities and construction of new facilities to cater for expanded use of the campus for Horticultural Research, Education and Advisory Services. A range of facilities are proposed including lecture rooms, offices, restaurant, glasshouse and associated services for same.
The project service will be Architect led and in addition to Architectural, Engineering (Civil/Structural, Mechanical & Electrical), Quantity Surveying, H&S Management and Project Management services will include the provision of PSDP and statutory applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certification and Disability Access certificates
The indicative value of the facilities to be provided is in the range €2,000,000 to €3,000,000.


Notice Type: Contract Notice
Title: Design and Project Management Services - Teagasc ARFC
Published: 07/02/2011
Published by: Teagasc
Deadline: 18/02/2011
Full Text: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/Search_View.aspx?id=FEB197596
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7 Feb 2011

HTA is urging all growers and retailers to register all trolleys with Container Centralen (CC)

“Operation Chip It” introduced highly secure RFID tags to all declared CC trolleys on 10 January 2011.  These will protect the CC pool against counterfeit low quality trolleys, and effectively stop CC customers paying for the maintenance of fake trolleys and subsidising the maintenance costs of those who are not signed up to the scheme.  CC have 3.5 million trolleys in circulation and it is estimated that there could be as many as one million unregistered or illegally tagged trolleys in the market.  

CC are running an amnesty on untagged trolleys for existing or new customers.  Any trolleys that meet the CC quality requirements can be entered into the pool before 31 May and receive an RFID tag at a cost of £15 per trolley , plus a forward annual maintenance commitment of £8.13.    Thereafter, the amnesty will end and the full purchase price of approx £50 per trolley will apply.  CC have committed to reducing the maintenance contract by €0.50 in 2012 and again in 2013 as a result of savings achieved through Operation Chip It.  Overall the change will reduce costs for CC pool members in the longer term.

The RFID security device allows pool members to scan CC trolleys and identify whether they are legitimate.  Counterfeit tags may appear in the market, but they will fail the IBM encryption technology.  CC clients can purchase scanners through three IBM approved providers, details of which can be found on www.operation-chip-it.com.

The HTA strongly urges all growers and retailers to review their CC trolley usage and register their requirements with Container Centralen under the amnesty as soon as possible.  Failure to do so could result in trolley gridlock as CC clients refuse to exchange trolleys that are not in the pool.  With the concentrated peak period between Easter and the May Bank Holiday in 2011, this could bring the industry to a halt.

Speaking on the matter HTA President, Caroline Owen of Scotsdale Garden Centre said “Whilst this change does appear to add cost to businesses in the short term there will be a longer term pay-off for those in the CC pool.  As a retailer I have to accept that this is not just an issue for growers and that for the whole CC system to work effectively then we, and all retailers using Danish trolleys, do need to be part of the CC pool and ensure we do our part to maintain an efficient supply chain.  Retailers who are not ready for this change will face major problems in the Spring and I would encourage all members to take this seriously.”

Additional information can be found at www.operation-chip-it.com  or from Container Centralen on 01322 294267.

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7 Feb 2011

Administrators seek buyer for UK Monro Horticulture

Monro Horticulture Ltd, trading as Monro South, was placed in administration on Monday 31 January.
Picture

Established over 100 years ago, Monro South are the leading suppliers of Horticultural products to the Commercial Grower and Landscape and Amenity sectors as well as Professional users and Allotment societies in the South and East of England.

1899  George Monro & Sons established the first Horticultural Sundries division at their Tavistock Street Fruit, Flower and Vegetable wholesaling premises at Covent Garden. 
The administrators are seeking a buyer. 

http://www.monrosouth.co.uk/


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7 Feb 2011

Green Learning Day

Green Learning Day

Exploring Opportunities in the Green Economy

Tuesday 22nd February 2011 | 11am – 4pm | Cultivate, The Greenhouse, St Andrew St, Dublin 2 (map) 

Green Works Dublin Hub is hosting an Open Day (schedule of short films and talks below) to celebrate Aontas Adult Learner's Festival.  Drop in for an afternoon of films and presentations exploring Ireland's green future and share ideas over tea, coffee and biscuits.  Presentations in building, business and permaculture will give participants an introduction to the range of learning available at Green Works.·

aontas logo

Green Works is a nationwide education programme, offering free courses to jobseekers, with a focus on upskilling the workforce for the growing opportunities within Ireland's Green Economy. 

Green Learning Day Schedule: 11 - 4pm

·     11.00 Film: The Challenge Ahead

·     11.30 Are We Ready for Green Business? - Victor Brannigan - Green Works

·     12.00 Film: Deconstructing Dinner

·     12.30 Film: Shelter

·     1.00 The Future of Green Building in Ireland - Pat Barry - Green Works

·     1.30 Films: Greening the Desert & 30 Year Old Food Forest

·     2.00 Permaculture Design Principles - Martin Giannini - Green Works

·     2.30 Film: It’s All Connected

·     3.00 Green Works - Free Training for Job seekers - Devyn Olson Sawyer

·     3.30 Film: Where Do We Go From Here?

Except for Greening the Desert and 30 Year Old Food Forest, the other screenings are from The Powerdown Show, a 10-part TV series that takes a fresh and engaging look at the community responses in Ireland to the converging challenges of climate change and peak oil.

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7 Feb 2011

Green Works - Upskill for the Green Economy

Green Works - Upskill for the Green Economy

Free training for jobseekers | green-works.ieGreen Works

Interested?  Please fill-in an Expression of Interest Form |Dublin Hub:  Cultivate, The Greenhouse, St Andrew St, Dublin 2 (map) 

Green Works offers courses at Cultivate, both in Dublin and the Eco Village in Cloughjordan, Tipperary, and at our partner hubs in Cork and Sligo (with other locations coming on line soon).  The training is aimed at educating and upskilling the workforce, preparing students for growing opportunities within Ireland’s green economy. Students will benefit from a wide variety of themed courses, FETAC certificates, workshops, work placements, lectures, networking and more.

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7 Feb 2011

Home Organics - Dublin Deliveries

Work in the city and can't receive

 your fruit/veg conveniently? Use Cultivate as your pickup point, free of charge!  Also as an opening offer, there's a free box of organic eggs with each veg bag purchased.

home_organics.jpg

Home Organics have been delivering certified organic fruit, vegetables and eggs all over Dublin since 2002.  We source as locally as possible and have built up an excellent relationship with suppliers around the country enabling us to offer a varied selections of seasonal organics at a very fair price. Founder Sarah Merrigan has worked as a chef and offers a very popular (mainly veggie) recipe service which goes along with each week’s selection. Weekly, fortnightly and once in a while orders are all welcome.  To place your order, click here.

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7 Feb 2011

Need Space to Work?

Cultivate Co-Working Space offers:

  • a relaxed, informal work space available form 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday
  • wireless internet access
  • meeting rooms
  • a city centre business address
  • networking opportunities

Be part of the new wave of Irish green business...

 

green roof

The Cultivate Co-Working Space is a unique city centre office facility for like-minded people to work and create alongside one another.  If you're looking for a place to work or meet, Cultivate offers 

Hot-Desks
 and meeting rooms at the Greenhouse, St. Andrew Street, Dublin 2 (map).

To use the Co-Working Space you join as a Cultivate Member and then pre-pay each month for a set number of hours depending on the space package you choose.  Packages include meeting room time which requires advance booking.

Cultivate Individual Membership is €5 per month. This includes discounts on our courses, workshops and events, and gives you access to the Co-Working Space.

Packages: To work in the Hot-Desking Space you choose a package that suits your needs:

  • Connection package: 50 hours per month + 1 hr meeting room = €35
  • Space package: 100 hours per month + 2 hr meeting room = €60
  • Full Time Space package: 180 hours per month + 3 hr meeting room = €110

If you want to use the desk space for more than your package chosen, you can book additional time for €1 per hour. If you want to use more hours for meetings, you can book extra time at a discounted rate of €10 per hour for the small meeting room and €20 per hour for the large meeting room. The event space (up to 70 people) and facilities are available at €40 per hour.

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7 Feb 2011

Vegetables For the Irish Garden by Klaus Laitenberger

€14.95 (Buy online)

| Paperback: 296 pages | Publisher: Milkwood Publishing (March 2010) | ISBN-10: 0956506305 | ISBN-13: 978-0956506306 | Weight:  .725kg

Klaus Laitenberger has been growing organic vegetables for over twenty years in the UK and Ireland.  He was running a four-acre organic market garden in England before moving to Ireland in 1999 where he was the Head Gardener at the Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co. Leitrim for seven years.  He then took on the challenge to start the garden restoration in Lissadell House in Co. Sligo.

For the last few years he works as a self-employed trainer, mentor and consultant in organic horticulture.  Last year he completed his PgDip in Organic Farming (SAC Aberdeen and University of Glasgow).  His first book, Vegetables For the Irish Garden, is now available.  The book will be of interest for anybody just starting to grow a few vegetables for the first time as well as for the more advanced gardeners.

Read a review by Jane Powers in the Irish Times, published Saturday, July 17, 2010.

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7 Feb 2011

New Series of Super Garden on RTE

Super Garden
, the RTÉ garden make over series is returning to our screens this summer and we are currently seeking Ireland’s brightest new talents in the world of garden design.

We have had many applications from homeowners from all over Ireland who would like to be part of the show and have the garden of their dreams created by an amateur designer so we are now looking for eager new designers all over the country.

Super Garden
 is a wonderful opportunity for garden design enthusiasts to turn their passion into a business opportunity.  All are welcome to apply to be part of the show.  Super Garden is a fantastic vehicle for newly qualified garden designers, landscape architects and horticulturists to showcase their talent.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 18th February 2011.

NEW SERIES OF ‘SUPER GARDEN’
COULD YOU BE A SUPER GARDENER?
Are you passionate about gardening? Is it your ambition to be a
garden designer? Do you dream of winning a Gold Medal at
Chelsea?
‘Super Garden’ is seeking 5 amateur garden designers to compete
for the title of ‘Super Gardener’ in the new RTÉ series, to be
broadcast in May 2011.
A passion for gardening is a must, as is creative flair, and the
ability to design a garden to a budget and deadline.
So if you feel you have what it takes, this is what you need to do!
Email us and tell us briefly why you love garden design, and what
your dream design would be. Where possible, please enclose
basic plans or drawings.
Only amateur garden designers are eligible to enter this
competition.
Filming will take place during the months of March and April 2011,
so applicants must be available for filming during this time.
Terms and conditions apply.

NEW SERIES OF ‘SUPER GARDEN’

COULD YOU BE A SUPER GARDENER?

Are you passionate about gardening? Is it your ambition to be a garden designer? Do you dream of winning a Gold Medal at Chelsea?

‘Super Garden’ is seeking 5 amateur garden designers to compete for the title of ‘Super Gardener’ in the new RTÉ series, to be broadcast in May 2011.

A passion for gardening is a must, as is creative flair, and the ability to design a garden to a budget and deadline. So if you feel you have what it takes, this is what you need to do!

Email us and tell us briefly why you love garden design, and what your dream design would be. Where possible, please enclose basic plans or drawings.

Email: supergarden@vipmg.tv

Only amateur garden designers are eligible to enter this competition.

Filming will take place during the months of March and April 2011, so applicants must be available for filming during this time.

Terms and conditions apply.

HorticultureTrends
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Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

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7 Feb 2011

The RIAI Election Manifesto

The RIAI Election Manifesto sets out the RIAI’s detailed proposals to the incoming Government for reforming the construction sector.

In summary, we are looking for the next Government to:

  • Review the National Spatial Strategy to deliver a long-term planning framework, with the goal of delivering social, economic and environmental sustainability in all areas of the built environment.
  • Advance the Government Policy on Architecture’s commitment to place quality and design in architecture at the core of national policy on the built environment, and particularly in State-funded construction projects.
  • Expedite the roll-out of approved public capital projects and bring forward the planning and design of key public capital projects – to maintain employment and generate a pipeline of ‘shovel-ready’ schemes for when the economy recovers.
  • Ensure the registration standards in the Building Control Act 2007 are maintained, and implement improvements to building regulatory procedures to achieve increased levels of compliance and greater consumer protection for the public.
  • Undertake an urgent review of the planning system to effect efficiencies, and achieve the timely delivery of essential infrastructure and built environment investment.
  • Undertake an immediate review of public procurement – to deliver key reforms in the commissioning of architecture and construction design services, reduce the bureaucracy in public tendering, and deliver resource efficiencies for commissioning public bodies.

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7 Feb 2011

The RIAI Annual Review


Irish Architecture Annual Review

This magnificent book is a compelling new survey of the best of Irish architecture in Ireland and throughout the world over the past year or so. The survey of the projects is led by Grafton Architects’ inspiring Università Luigi Bocconi in Milan which won the ‘World Building of the Year Award’ for 2008 at the World Architecture Festival.

Twenty eight buildings are discussed – including the Wexford Opera House, Thomond Park and Croke Park stadia, libraries in Cork, Rush and Laois, housing, a Garda station, Courthouses, parks, an artist’s studio, a theatre and gallery in Carlow, local government buildings in Laois, hotels and private houses. All are beautifully illustrated with plans, elevations and photographs.

Paul keogh at launch

Irish Architecture The RIAI Annual Review, Volume 1 2011 - Now available from RIAI Bookshop:

For more information please contact Brona King bking@riai.ie

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7 Feb 2011

Green IFSC Could Produce 7,000 Jobs

Green IFSC could produce 7,000 jobs – Taoiseach

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has today announced Government support for the establishment of a ‘Green International Financial Services Centre’ aimed at putting Ireland at the heart of Green financial services.

l-r Padraig Rushe, Chair of IFSC Banking & Treasury Group, Taoiseach, Brian Cowen and David Guest, Chair of the Green IFSC Steering Group

At a special event in Government Buildings, attended by top figures from the financial services sector, Mr Cowen committed the Government to supporting a range of measures “to target environmentally-related financial services as a means of generating high value employment and revenue growth in Ireland”.

The initiative will include Government backing for the development of…

  • An International Carbon Standard (ICS) 
  • And the Dublin International Voluntary Offset Registry (DIVOR).

The government has agreed in principle to provide almost €7 million over the next three years to the development of the initiative and according to the Taoiseach…

By supporting the establishment of the ‘Green IFSC’, Ireland is positioning itself as the leading financial services centre for the management of carbon and green finance, including the establishment of a government supported International Carbon Standard (ICS) and associated Dublin International Voluntary Offset Registry (DIVOR).

This initiative will help to maintain the competitive advantage of the IFSC and has the potential to create, in the next five years, over 7,000 new jobs and €6 billion in revenue from this emerging sector. This is a significant boost for the development of Ireland’s Smart Economy.”

According to the Department of the Taoiseach…

The next step in the initiative announced today is the finalisation for Government approval of the detailed business plan which will be completed by the Enterprise Agencies in partnership with the Green IFSC Steering Group, working under the aegis of the IFSC Clearing House Group. It is expected that the business plan will be finalised by the end of March 2011.”

Mr Cowen stressed the that the previous experience of the IFSC centre will be of value in securing the new Green financial services opportunities…

There are considerable opportunities globally in green finance, carbon management and the growth of the green economy. We already have the template through the IFSC in how to position ourselves as world leaders in this area. If we marry the skills we already have, and support them with appropriate enabling policies, we can position ourselves as a country of choice for green financial services.”

Read the press release from the Department of the Taoiseach

Read the speech delivered by Taoiseach Brian Cowen at the event.

You can watch his remarks in the video below;

HorticultureTrends
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Offices: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
      
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3 Feb 2011

GardenGuide - A New Consumer Gardening TV Series Launching Nationally on City Channel Dublin, Cork, Limerick & Galway in 2011.

GardenGuide - A New Consumer Gardening TV Series Launching Nationally on City Channel Dublin, Cork, Limerick & Galway in 2011.

Programme Title: GardenGuide

Producer/Promoter: HortiTrends - Joseph Blair

Programme Run-time: March to October 2011

What is GardenGuide?

It is a new consumer focused gardening TV program that is being promoted and shown on the City Channel network and will be running throughout 2011. It will be backed up by the new consumer gardening website www.gardenguide.ie which is currently under construction but will be live before the programme airs.

Click Here to View:  GardenGuide Short Demo Showcase of Participants

 

Garden

Guide - Expertise, Practical Know-how & Passion for your Garden.

The programme will be a TV half hour (24 minutes). This breaks down to 4 segments of 5 minutes that will be available for each participant company.

Why Should my company participate? OK. So you know you have a great product or service but you are not connecting with the end user? The Garden Guide format gives you the chance to get in front of a captive audience. You now have their attention!

Along with outlining the key benefits of your service or product during your slot you can also launch a strong 'Call to Action' by offering a discount for the product or service you provide during the month that you are being featured on the City Channel network. The offer will also be linked to and cross-promoted on your own website along with the www.gardenguide.ie channel along with over 20 other Social Media channels such as Facebook, Twitter etc.

Click Here to View:  GardenGuide Short Demo Showcase of Participants

Click here to view an example of a full Participant Slot:  GardenGuide TV Programme Demo

More Benefits?

  • Each programme will be shown at least 24 times (including peak viewer times 6pm to 10pm) in the month that you are featured with a new programme coming online each month thus increasing the chances that viewers get to see you product or service featured as viewers will also be clicking in to www.gardenguide.ie to access current programme offers but will also be able to see past GardenGuide features.
  • The features will be shot on location, not in studio, and each of the businesses featured will get to keep their footage for their own use such as a corporate DVD to send to potential customers, an about Your Company Video on your website plus a permanent listing on www.gardenguide.ie (under construction) and www.hortitrends.com
  • The point to remember is that they are not just a 5 minute hard selling advertisement. Whatever service or product area your business is in, we will produce a feature focusing on a particular problem your company can solve or a benefit they can deliver to the viewers. You will be presented as the expert in the field and the company able to offer a product or service solution.
  • The programme will utilise a presenter in an interview role who will ask you about and highlight the benefits of your product or service you are offering during your feature.

What Next? Talk to Joseph to find out more about this opportunity right away. There are only 32 slots available for 2011 with a number of these already booked & confirmed.

There are still  Programme Launch Promotion Slots available as substantial discounts!

Don’t delay call 087 9212044 now to reserve your program slot today.

2 Feb 2011

Why investing in landscape makes economic sense


  • ECOBUILD
     STREET DESIGN WHY INVEST IN LANDSCAPE
  • February sees the launch of the LI's 'Why Invest in Landscape?' campaign showing how UK towns and cities are seeing a positive benefit by investing in landscape...

    Crowds at the opening of Barnstaple Square – a featured case study in the LI's 'Why invest in landscape?'

Barnstaple Square

At the start of this year the Landscape Institute focuses on two key themes: the case for investing in landscape and the importance of making green infrastructure work at local level in order to address the government’s localism agenda.

February sees the launch of 'Why Invest in Landscape?' a new campaign that shows how towns and cities around the UK are seeing a positive benefit by investing in landscape. From revitalising a small public square to planning for massive new estates, the economic benefits are clearly demonstrated. 

LI members will receive copies of the campaign booklet together with the next Journal which will carry two articles dedicated to this topic. The Journal will explore the background to the economics of landscape and the booklet will showcase six case studies that demonstrate that, when landscape is placed at the heart of the development process, developers profit while businesses and communities reap the economic benefits. The campaign focuses on the positive impact on business and communities of investment in landscape. 

The campaign kicks off with a day of seminars in London at Ecobuild on 2 March, including a lunctime surgery from WRAP, and continues with a full day of seminars at Street Design at the end of the month.

At Ecobuild, Dick Longdin from Randall Thorp and developer Neville Stebbing of Taylor Wimpey will be speaking about long-term investment in the landscape and green infrastructure of Cambourne, Cambridge. Neil Homer of LDA Design and Melanie Taylor of Leeds City Region will be presenting their work in Leeds City Region.  

Dominic Watkins from Chris Blandford Associates will present the Milton Keynes South Midlands Green Infrastructure Design Guide; and Sion Neesam from the Landscape Partnership will be talking about The Cambridge SuDS Design and Adoption Guide which won this year’s President’s Award.  

Ian Phillips, a member of the Landscape Institute Policy Committee will outline the way in which GI can be implemented at all scales of landscape and provide an explanation of how landscape architects can support  developers, planning authorities and communities in responding to the localism agenda.

To book your place at Ecobuild 2011, click here

At Street Design, Dafydd Warburton, landscape architect, LDA Design, presents two important case studies from Why Invest in Landscape? - Pontypool Regeneration Strategy and Diglis Water. Jill White, formerly at Devon County Council, outlines the thinking behind The Square, Barnstaple and Tot Brill, Executive Director, Transport, Environment and Leisure Services, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, presents their work on Exhibition Road which is linking South Kensington’s Museum District with an outstanding shared space. 

The afternoon seminar looks at the The Landscape of Shopping.
 Oxford Circus is at the centre of London’s West End, Cheapside was the market street for the City of London, and Peter Heath, technical director, Atkins, presents the major improvements carried out at Oxford Circus, which include a diagonal crossing; Victor Callister, assistant director environmental enhancements, City of London Corporation, outlines the changes to Cheapside which are turning this once more into the City’s major shopping street and Paul Osborne, environmental improvements officer, Exeter City Council, on the importance of a high quality public realm to commercial retail development in Exeter.

To book your place at Street Design 2011, click here

2 Feb 2011

International HortiWeek 2011

All activities during the International HortiWeek: 3 trade fairs, numerous events, Technical Trials and the international horticultural symposium, take place in that same week. The Horti Fair is the starting point for the international visitor on a "tour of horticulture," rightly enabling everyone to be a host. This new strategy will put an end to the fragmentation in floriculture, but will also create a strong 'magic' around horticultural Holland, allowing us to take pride in horticulture once more.

lijntje

Data on 30,000 visitors available

The visitor is what it is all about and the Horti Fair is growing in the direction of 30,000 visitors. Maintaining and making contacts are important reasons why you should take part in the event. A professional visitor registration system is being introduced in 2011 and the data in the visitor records will be available to the exhibitors, increasing your commercial result from the exhibition.

What are the advantages for you as an exhibitor?

  • Overview of all visitor details (provided they have given permission for this);
  • Monitoring and recognizability of the visitors to your own stand;
  • Higher commercial return from the trade show. Registration makes things easier for visitors as well, with fast recognition by exhibitors being only one example.

lijntje

From square to cubic metres

Growers already cultivate in multiple tiers and already think in cubic metres, which are also the basic unit for the Horti Fair. The exhibition floor is one of the means of communication for exhibitors. The Horti Fair also facilitates networking, meetings and symposiums for exhibitors, for example. Everything really revolves around people, the exchange of knowledge and networking. This extra dimension is the shift, as it were, from square to cubic metres for the trade show.

lijntje

The horticultural powerhouse: Greenhouse construction, genetics and breeding

Dutch horticulture continues to be unique in its combination of breeding, greenhouse construction and genetics and this is obvious on the exhibition floor, as well as in all the activities at and around the event. Taking part as an exhibitor at the Horti Fair not only brings a stronger international presence, but local attention as well.

New varieties: the heart of floriculture

A wide range is vitally important for floricultural trade. The annual introduction of almost one thousand wonderful new products is the heart of floriculture. The quality judging events underline the importance of these innovations and the wide range available, reinforcing international competitive power accordingly.

HorticultureTrends
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1 Feb 2011

Bord Bia Amenity Horticulture Quality Awards & GCAI Spring Seminar

An Opportunity not to be missed  - The Highlight of the Horticultural Calendar

 

Bord Bia Amenity Horticulture Quality Awards

Gala Presentation Dinner Thursday 17th February 2011

&

GCAI Spring Seminar - 
Sponsored by Bord Bia

Opportunities and Challenges – with John Stanley

 

 

On 17th February 2011 Bord Bia will present the Garden Centre Quality AwardsNursery Quality Awards and Landscape Quality Awards for 2010/11 during a Gala Dinner at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, Dublin 9.

 

The Bord Bia Amenity Quality Awards presentation is a acknowledgement and celebration of horticulture industry’s dedication to quality and best practice, and presents a perfect opportunity to network and catch up with friends and colleagues across all the sectors. The event is open to all horticultural businesses to attend. Almost one hundred businesses across the three sectors will receive Bord Bia Quality awards, following rigorous audits and assessments by an independent auditor during 2010. A suite of special awards will also be presented and there are sure to be some surprises and excitement on the night when the winners are revealed.

 

To coincide with the event Bord Bia is sponsoring the Garden Centre Association of Ireland’s, Spring Seminar at the same venue from 9.00am until 4.30pm that day. Opportunities and Challenges, withJohn Stanley will include a presentation of the latest Garden Market, Behaviour and Attitudes survey, carried out by Amarach Research on behalf of Bord Bia. This seminar is relevant to everyone in the amenity horticulture industry, is targeted at all sectors, and will challenge and excite all who attend. “If you are stuck in the middle with no real business direction your business will probably fail.” So says John Stanley, one of the leading horticultural consultants in the world today. Listed as one of the world’s top 10 speakers, John Stanley has picked up both the WA Entrepreneur of the Year and WA Small Business Champion in Education and Training for 2009.

In an intensive, day long training event John will guide delegates through the fast changing economy & consumers to whom we are currently selling. These consumers have become more focused on plants, but want the retailers to provide more solutions and ideas and the grower to become part of a new partnership. John’s workshop will at times be controversial and challenging. The ideas presented may not sit comfortably but are part of the change process every business is facing as we move into a new decade and a new economic reality. The good news is people want to buy plants that are locally grown and sold by local trusted retailers. Are you ready for the challenge?

 

For ease of booking and administration, Bord Bia are facilitating booking for both the Seminar and the Awards – it couldn’t be easier, just fill in one form and send one payment for everything.

 

Each Garden Centre, Nursery and Landscape Quality programme participant is allocated one complementary ticket to the Gala Awards Presentation Dinner, while combining the two events has resulted in extremely attractive ticket rates as follows:  Seminar only - €100 (GCAI memb./ Q prog. participants €75),  Gala Awards Presentation Dinner only - €75 ,Seminar & Awards Dinner - €150

 

Further information and event booking contact Jenny Abbott on 01 6142286 or jenny.abbott@bordbia.ie

Accommodation is available at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at a preferential rate of €99 B&B per room (single or double) or €84.00 per room only or in their sister hotel on site, the Holiday Inn Express €75.00Single or Double Room including Hot Breakfast

 

Please note that accommodation bookings must be made directly with the hotel by telephone 01 862 8888 quoting Bord Bia Amenity Horticulture Awards Ceremony, by Thursday 3rd February. As is usual, most hotels allocate a small number of rooms to special internet booking sites, which may be cheaper than the preferential rate we have negotiated – please check online also for best value.www.cpdublin.crowneplaza.com

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24 Jan 2011

South Dublin County Council has been named as ‘Council of the Year 2011’

South Dublin County Council has been named as ‘Council of the Year 2011’ at the 5th Annual Local Authority Members Association Awards, held on Saturday 22nd January.


The Mayor Eamonn Maloney said “I am honoured and delighted that South Dublin County Council won the inaugural ‘Council of the Year’ award. On behalf of the Elected Members I congratulate the County Manager, Joe Horan and the staff of the Council on their excellent work, this award is in recognition of the innovative and creative work that takes place in this Council.

In addition to the ‘Council of the Year’ award, 6 projects from South Dublin County Council were shortlisted, with the Council winning awards in the following categories:

Best Use of External Communication

Project: Connecting the Past: Mapping South Dublin County in Time

Best Recreational Facility

Project: Grand Canal Way Green Route 3rd-12th Lock

Best Public Park

Project: Corkagh Park

HorticultureTrends
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Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Offices: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
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Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     
24 Jan 2011

The World Flower Show to be held in Ireland in 2014

Dublin's RDS to host World Flower Show

Dublin's RDS to host World Flower Show

The World Flower Show is set to be held in Ireland for the first time in 2014, with the RDS today named as the venue for the event.

Due to take place in June 2014, the event will include a flower arrangers’ conference with over 1,200 participants, and the World Flower Show, an exhibition of flower arrangements, which will be open to the public. According to its organisers, this exhibition will showcase the beautiful and extravagant creations of flower arrangers from all over the world and is expected to attract over 10,000 visitors per day from Ireland and abroad.

The Association of Irish Floral Artists (AOIFA) has been chosen by the World Association of Flower Arrangers (WAFA) to manage a three year programme, on its behalf, that will include organising an international seminar, publishing of a book, running educational events and tours, and staging the 11th World Flower Show at the RDS.

“During our three year tenure, the World Flower Show will be one of our largest events,” said Kitty Gallagher, president of WAFA Ireland. “We chose the RDS because of its great location along with its excellent conference and exhibition facilities. They also have the experience of managing and marketing large public events and we are expecting huge numbers to this exciting show”

Keep Yourself updated! Click Here to Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors In Ireland www.HortiTrends.com 

Click Here! to Promote Your Business and Grow Your Trade on Irelands Leading Business2Businesss Horticulture Directory of Supplies & Services www.HortiTrends.com

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Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture, Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors.

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22 Jan 2011

GCAI Breaking News on John Stanley Ireland Seminar

We have confirmed the details for the GCAI John Stanley seminar on 17th February.
And to make the news even better we can confirm that Bord Bia have stepped in to sponsor the event so ticket prices are exceptional value too.
Tickets cost €100
However GCAI members or those attending the Bord Bia Amenity Awards (in the same location that night) only pay €75
 
The event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry, Dublin (near the airport http://www.cpireland.crowneplaza.com/Crowne-Plaza-Dublin-Northwood.html). John steps onto the podium promptly at 9.30 but registration is from 9am. Lunch is included. Bord Bia will also be presenting the findings of their Behavious & Attitudes Survey on the day. A special overnight rate has been negotiated for delegates.
 
Bookings are being accepted through the GCAI (anne@gio.ie) or Bord Bia and invoicing will be through Bord Bia.
 
We're looking forward to an exceptional day at an exceptionally good value price.
 
The source for this news was from Anne Mc Kenna of the GCAI who also supplied all of the related Bord Bia news. Thank-you Anne.

If you are a business or any other organisation that  has any news that is useful in developing and promoting the horticulture sector in Ireland please contact HortiTrends.

Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors.
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Leading Business2Businesss Horticulture Directory of Supplies & Services.

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19 Jan 2011

Do You Know of any Local Events for an ISNA Plant Fair?

Events for 2011 are being confirmed and the dates of these shows will appear in the 2011 calendar. If you know of any local events or would like to host an ISNA plant fair then get in touch.
http://isna.ie/
The Irish Specialist Nursery Association is a new grouping of some of the countries best small and independent nurseries and plant growers, whose aim is to promote the home grown plants produced by its members. With many award-winning nurseries in the group the public will have access not only to top quality plants but also to the gardening knowledge and experience of these plants people who are only too willing to advise on suitable plants for problem areas.

Caherhurley Nursery:
Gert Stam. Caherhurley, Bodyke, Co. Clare.
Tel: 061-640958    Mobile 087 9062987.
Email: stamireland@gmail.com

Camolin Potting Shed:
Gerry Harford. Ballinaspick, Camolin, Co. Wexford.
Tel: 0539 383629.
Email sricher@iol.ie Web: www.camolinpottingshed.com

Charles Allen
Charles Allen, Inistioge, Co.Kilkenny
Tel: 087-6292891

Deelish Garden Centre:
Bill Chase. Skibbereen, Co. Cork.
Tel: 028 21374.
Email deel@eircom.net Web www.deelish.ie

Dicksonia Direct
Billy Alexander. Kells Bay House and Gardens, Caherciveen, Ring of Kerry.
Mob: 087 7776666.
Email billy@dicksonia.ie Web: www.kellsgardens.ie

Dublin School of Horticulture:
Carl Dacus. 28 Spencer Villas, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
Tel; 10 2148469    Mob. 086 3857283
Email carl@dsh.ie Web www.DSH.ie

Field of Blooms:
Guy de Schryver. Ballymackey, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
Tel: 067 29974.   Mob: 087 6406044
Email guy2002@eircom.net Web www.fieldofblooms.ie

Future Forests:
Mike and Maria Collard. Kealkil, Bantry, Co. Cork.
Tel:027 66176   Mob: 086 1616266
Email futureforests@eircom.net Web www.futureforests.net

Gortkelly Castle Nursery:
Clare Beumer. Gortkelly, Upperchurch, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Tel: 0504 54441

Harrington Exotics:
Michael Harrington
School Road
Saggart
Co. Dublin
Tel: 01-4587125,  Mob: 087 2930326
Email: anneharrington6@eircom.net

Heritage Bulbs
Octavia Tulloch
West Wing
Tullynallycastle
Castlepollard
Co. Westmeath
Tel: 044 9662744
Mobile: 087 9574378
EMail: info@heritagebulbs.com
Web: www.heritagebulbs.com

Irish Water Plants
John Doorley
Doon
Strokestown
Co. Rosscommon
Tel: 071 9633428   Mob: 087 9255171
Email: irishwaterplants@eircom.net
Web: www.irishwaterplants.com

June Blake Nursery
June Blake
Tinode
Blessington
Co. Wicklow
Tel: 014582500 Mob: 087 2770399
Email: info@juneblake.ie
Web: www.juneblake.ie

Kilmurry Nursery
Paul & Orla Woods
Gorey
Co. Wexford
Tel: 053 9480223
Email: kilmurrynursery@eircom.net
Web:  www.kilmurrynursery.com

Leamore Nursery
Phillip Havercroft
Cronroe
Ashford
Co. Wicklow
Mob: 087 2278850
Email: leamorenursery@ireland.com

Meelick Bay Nursery
Stephen Powell
Ballinagough
Whitegate
Co. Clare
Tel: 061 927447 Mob: 087 9411150
Email: meelickbaynursery@eircom.net

Mount Venus Nursery
Oliver Schurmann
Tibradden
Mutton Lane
Dublin 16
Tel: 01 4933813 Mob: 086 3218789
Email: schurmann@ireland.com
Web: www.mountvenusnursery.com

Nightpark Nursery
Therese Duffey
Ballymount
Colbinstown
Co. Kildare
Tel: 045 403225 Mob: 087 7979209
Email:  nightpark@eircom.net

Peninsula Primulas
Philip Bankhead
72 Ballyeasborough Rd.
Kircubbin
Co. Down BT22 1AD
Tel: (0044) 28 42772193
Email: peninsula.primulas@btinternet.com
Web: www.primulasandauriculas.com

Peppermint Farm and Garden
Doris Hoffman
Toughrareen
Bantry
Co. Cork
Tel: 028 31869
Mobile: 086 1616668
EMail: peppermint@eircom.net
Web: www.peppermintfarm.com

Herbs on Thyme/Peony Passions
Ciaron Flood
The Old Schoolhouse
Bracknagh
Rathangan
Co Kildare
Tel: 057 8629109 Mob: 087 2448636
Email: peonypassions@gmail.com
Web:  www.herbsonthyme.com
web: www.peonypassions.ie

Perennial Plants Nursery
Sandy McCarthy
Barnabrow
Middleton
Co. Cork
Tel: 021 4652122
Email: perennialplants@eircom.net
Web: www.perennialplants.biz

Rare Plants Ireland
Finlay F Colley
The Mill House
Kilmatead
Green Isle Road
Dublin 22
Tel: 01 4592668 Mob: 087 2473549
Email: rareplantsireland@eircom.net

Shady Plants
Mike Keep
Coolbooa
Clashmore
Youghal
Co. Cork
Mob: 086 0542171
Email: mike@shadyplants.ie
Web: www.shadyplants.net
www.thefernshop.com

Sydney Conneff Plants
Sydney Conneff
3 Ardagh Court
Blackrock
Co. Dublin
Tel:01- 2887625 Mob: 087 9514838
Email: sconneff@eircom.net

Two Lions Garden Plants
Norrys P. Maxwell
80 Killough Rd.
Downpatrick
Co. Down
Tel: 028 44612195
Email: enquiries@twolions.org.uk
Web: www.twolions.org.uk


News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Offices: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
         & Mullinarry, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan.
    
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Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     
19 Jan 2011

ISNA Show Calendar 2011

Fota House Plant and Garden Fair
Fota House
Co.Cork
April 17th- 11.00am-4.00pm
Admission €8

ISNA Easter Plant Fair-
Farmleigh (to be confirmed)
Phoenix Park
Dublin
April 24th-25th
Free admission

Rare and Special Plant Fair
Birr Castle and Demesne
Co. Offaly
May 8th
Admission charge will apply
More information

Bloom
Phoenix Park
Dublin
3rd to 7th June 2010
Admission charge will apply
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Offices: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
         & Mullinarry, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan.
    
Mobile: 353 (0)87.9212044  

Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     
19 Jan 2011

Costa Farms' O2 for You & Miracle-Gro Partner to Improve Indoor Air Quality with Houseplants

Costa Farms' O2 for You & Miracle-Gro Partner to Improve Indoor Air Quality with Houseplants

MIAMI, Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Costa Farms' 'O2 for you: Houseplants with a purpose' program and Miracle-Gro® are teaming up to 'take care of the plants that take care of you'™.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110119/CL30503LOGO )

Costa Farms' O2 for you program in partnership with Miracle-Gro will build consumer awareness of improving indoor air quality with healthy indoor houseplants.  Costa Farms, the world's largest provider of indoor houseplants, and Miracle-Gro, the most trusted name in gardening, want people to be successful growing plants indoors.

Since its 2008 inception, Costa Farms' O2 for you program has grown from a public service campaign to national exposure on Good Morning America in 2010.

"We believe the 02 for You message about improving indoor air quality with houseplants is a simple way people can bring green inside," said Tom McLoughlin, vice president, gardens marketing at ScottsMiracle-Gro. "Miracle-Gro products make growing strong and healthy houseplants easy. This partnership links two great brands with a common purpose – people benefiting from improved indoor environments."

Costa Farm's partnership with non-profits and corporations is helping to spread the word that indoor houseplants clean the air of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), remove CO2 and provide oxygen, and improve indoor air quality.

"We're excited that the healthy benefits of indoor houseplants are catching on through our O2 for you program," said Jose Smith, president & CEO of Costa Farms. "And one of the best ways to grow strong and vigorous indoor houseplants is to feed them."

The partnership entails sharing online content, website links and point of purchase materials that will help educate consumers on the benefits of indoor houseplants.

"This is a perfect partnership to help educate consumers on the benefits of indoor houseplants which help clean the air and improve lives," said Smith.

For more information visit: www.O2foryou.org and www.miraclegro.com.

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17 Jan 2011

Architectural Design Competition: PlaySpace in Killybegs, Co. Donegal

Donegal County Council Public Art Office in partnership with the Irish Architecture Foundation and the RIAI (Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland) have launched an architectural competition for the design of a PlaySpace in Killybegs, Co. Donegal.The promoters are seeking to make this one stage architectural competition an exemplar play commission and to this end, the IAF has initiated a detailed and comprehensive consultation process with the children, parents and playground committee in Killybegs.

The PlaySpace is an Architectural Public Art Commission made possible by a partnership funding arrangement utilising the Per Cent for Art Scheme budget, a disability budget and a budget secured by the Killybegs Playground Committee. The competition is open to architects and architect-led design teams. Once a competitor registers to take part in the competition, they have until 21 February 2011 to submit their entries.


Each entry will consist of one A1 size sheet of information. The construction budget for the PlaySpace is €65,000 and a prize fund of €6,000 is available. The winners of the competition will be announced at the end of March 2011.


17 Jan 2011

Presentations + Report from Seminar: Independent Living and Design for our Ageing Population

Source: www.riai.ie

Independent Living and Design for our Ageing Population

Seminar Presentations + Report by Caitriona Shaffrey, Chair of the RIAI Accessibility Task Force


"Independent Living and Design for our Ageing Population" was the title of a seminar held on the 6th December 2010 in Dublin City Council’s Wood Quay venue.

The seminar was jointly organised by the UIA Architecture For All Workgroup, the Directorship of which is hosted by RIAI ,together with the  RIAI  Accessibility Task Force and the RIAI Healthcare design committee .

The intention of the seminar was to consider design strategies for an ageing population and to focus attention on improving quality of life for older people through design.

There were six presentations:

Professor Rose Anne Kenny (Director of Centre for Successful Ageing in St. James’s Hospital) spoke about the ageing Demographics of Europe and BioPsychSocial consequences.
She gave some fascinating facts, which will have major implications for the lives of older people: In the 1900s there were 22 people working for every retired person; by 2024, there will be less than 3.
She spoke about ageing and research being carried out to reverse the process.
She then went on to talk about the cost of dementia – in care terms – and studies, which indicate that a more active, involved life appears to slow the onset of dementia.
Roseto Valfortore – an Italian community in the USA, have experienced a much longer lifespan than most communities in America which is put down to diet, exercise, genetics and environment.

Note: Presentation not available


RIAI President, Paul Keogh, was the next speaker and he spoke about the ageing process with respect to two sheltered housing schemes done by his practice and with his own experience with older members of his family. He spoke of the need for the social interaction between people in sheltered housing – manifested in open plan spaces internally for maximum connectivity. 

View Presentation:  Case Studies in Sheltered Housing in Ireland


Eduardo Elkouss of Spain spoke of his experience in the search for energy efficiency/ environmental impact reduction and the impact of sun and shade when designing relatively large scale units.

Note: Presentation not available


Rodd Bond – described the WHO Age Friendly Cities Programme and the development of Louth as an age friendly county. He illustrated the “Great Northern Haven Project in Dundalk; he spoke of “Ageing in Place – Independent Living /  Clustered living” and the shifting perspectives, which influence the development of these headings.
He mentioned the research report “HAPPI” (Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation) www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/housing-ageing-population-panel-innovation.htm  – which shows similar issues and directions in the UK. 

View Presentation: WHO Age Friendly Cities Programme and Louth as an Age Friendly County


Eleanor Masterson, Architectural Advisor in the Health Services Executive gave an overview of the history of housing for older people in the state  starting from the old workhouses which were converted  into institutional facilities for older people  to the later nursing homes with medical nursing backup and up to 6 bed units to relatively recent times where a 4 bed unit is the maximum and moving forward to have 70% single room occupancy with a possibility for having more space for elderly people to bring their belongings with a variety of therapy spaces and less institutional dining rooms – small kitchen units where people can   have some flexibility in when and how they eat. She spoke of the normalisation of everyday activities.

View Presentation: Residential Healthcare - an overview of public practice in Ireland


Monika Klenovec, Architect and civil engineer, Chair of the UN NGO Committee on Ageing In Vienna spoke about independent living in Austria where adaptable housing is the norm for all general need housing and there are different options for people as they grow older. 

She spoke of different options:
1) Adaptable residential apartments
2) Supported living in smaller apartments either alone or with other elderly people.
3) independent living with 24 hour nursing care
4) Collective  living
5) Active independent living in hotel like setting with all dining, recreational, medical facilities in one complex but with individual units for living- she gave two examples of this.

View Presentation– Independent living in Austria & a review of European Access Awards



Sean Mahon of the RIAI Healthcare Committee chaired the evening, and at this point he brought the seminar to a close as we were well over our allotted time.
This seminar was a most stimulating evening which was enjoyed by all who attended.



The following morning the UIA members and some members of the RIAI Accessibility Taskforce were given a tour of the “Aviva stadium“ by Bryan Roe and Rebecca Ryan of Scott Tallon Walker Architects. The stadium has recently been jointly awarded the inaugural ONCE prize at the World Architecture Festival for Accessible Design – the other building was the Vancouver Community Centre in Canada.

This was then followed by a visit to the Health Centre in Ringsend designed by A&D Wejchert where Helen Giblin showed the group around. The Ringsend Health Centre received the RIAI/OPW  Accessibility award in 2009.

Many thanks to Brian, Rebecca and Helen for their time in explaining each building. 


Caitriona Shaffrey,
Chair,RIAI ATF        December 7th 2010

 

 

Presentations

•Paul Keogh – Case Studies in Sheltered Housing in Ireland

•Rodd Bond – WHO Age Friendly Cities Programme and Louth as an Age Friendly County

•Eleanor Masterson –  Residential Healthcare - an overview of public practice in Ireland

•Eduardo Elkouss – Recent changes & current trends in Spain

•Monika Klenovec – Independent living in Austria & a review of European Access Awards

 


Biographies

Paul Keogh is President of the RIAI and has designed a number of award winning developments for older people

Rodd Bond is an architect, Director of the Netwell Centre in Dundalk Institute of Technology, who has managed Dundalk’s participation in the WHO Age friendly cities project

Eleanor Masterson is Architectural Advisor in the Health Service Executive, Estates

Dr. Eduardo Elkouss, originally from Argentina, now practices as an architect in Alicante.

Monika Anna Klenovec is an architect & civil engineer, Chair of the UN NGO Committee on Ageing in Vienna & Jury Member for the World Architecture Festival Accessibility Award

17 Jan 2011

Deadline for New ‘Slow Architecture and Sustainability': 30 Jan 2011

Source: ArchitectureNow

SARC – an architectural research collective – is looking for expressions of interest in the participation in a canal-based travelling educational programme on the theme of ‘architecture and sustainability’ to take place on the Barrow navigation, travelling from Monasterevin to Waterford from May to July 2011.
Deadline for New ‘Slow Architecture and Sustainability': 30 Jan 2011

SARC – an architectural research collective – is looking for expressions of interest in the participation in a canal-based travelling educational programme on the theme of ‘architecture and sustainability’ to take place on the Barrow navigation, travelling from Monasterevin to Waterford from May to July 2011.


Selected participants will be asked to develop the theme of Slow – architecture and sustainability in relationship to a project and the process of design. Participants should have the enthusiasm and experience to communicate their project as part of a teaching process to school children.


The notion of Slow Architecture as a design approach for our built environment – an approach based on time for reflection as well as the craft of making – formed the basis of our exhibition on the Grand Canal in 2010. This exhibition engaged with some 300 school children as well as architects and the general public over its two month journey from Shannon to Liffey.


The three pillars of social, environmental and ethical concerns support the slow movement and it is the communication of these values through our built environment to the younger generation that forms the basis for our programme in 2011.


Expressions of Interest should take the form of a written document of not more than 300 words with accompanying illustrations and clearly demonstrate your intended response and method of communicating to a younger generation.


Your document should be sent to SARC c/o Solearth, Daintree Building, 62 Pleasants Place Dublin 8- before 30th January 2011. Further informationwww.slowarchitecture.ie

17 Jan 2011

Industry Optimistic as Global Growth Underpins Food Markets

 Bord Bia: Irish Food & Drink Key Export Driver as Sales Approach €8 billion 

Irish food and drink was a major contributor to the economy’s strong export performance in 2010, with export sales expanding by 11 per cent to reach €7.9 billion, according to Bord Bia.  The increase, amounting to just over €800 million, was supported by a more stable consumer environment, reduced exchange rate pressures, and improved relative competitiveness.  It was also boosted by rising global prices for most agricultural commodities.  The expansion in food and drink exports outpaced the increase in total merchandise exports and is estimated to have accounted for almost one-third of total growth during the first nine months of 2010.

“The strength of the industry’s export performance is all the more commendable for the fact that  it has been achieved in what remains a highly competitive marketing environment” according to Dan Browne, Chairman of Bord Bia.  “All major categories recorded increases, led by dairy, which jumped by more than €300 million or 17 per cent. Meat and livestock exports were almost €200 million higher while beverage and prepared food exports recorded growth of €130 million and €100 million respectively.”

“The success of the industry in growing its penetration of Continental EU markets is also to be welcomed”, according to Mr.Browne, “with exports to the mainly eurozone markets increasing by 14 per cent.” Continental EU markets now account for 34 per cent of the industry’s total exports of food and drink.

The economy continues to dominate consumer thinking and behaviour throughout many key European markets, where more consumers believe their purchasing power will decrease than increase over the coming two years.  The results of the fourth wave of Bord Bia’s Feeling the Pinch survey, completed in late 2010, also shows a high degree of uncertainty remains among Irish and British consumers.  Indeed, the only certainty that appears to be emerging is that significant change is unlikely to materialise in 2011 and as the search for value continues, consumers are embracing the “new normal”.

Nevertheless, looking ahead to 2011 the prospects for Irish food and drink exports remain positive, helped by strong global demand for commodity products and a relatively tight supply situation in a number of key product categories. “In a year in which the world’s population will reach seven billion, growth in global demand is set to underpin food markets well into the future, albeit with some volatility to be expected”, according to Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive of Bord Bia.  He added that “the challenge for the Irish food and drink industry is to maintain its current momentum, particularly in the areas of cost competitiveness, innovation and marketing.  Implementation of the recommendations of Food Harvest 2020* (incorporating Bord Bia’s Pathways for Growth), which reflect a consensus industry view for supporting growth, will be critical to sustaining this momentum and delivering on its ambitious targets in the decade ahead”, he said.

Industry Optimism

Irish food and drink manufacturers across all categories are more optimistic and showing a more positive outlook, according to Bord Bia’s recent food industry survey (December 2010). In total, 70 per cent of exporters involved in the survey viewed the prospects for their business in 2011 as good or very good. When asked to compare their prospects to a year earlier, 56 per cent rated them as better.

In terms of sales prospects, 64 per cent of exporters had increased their sales forecasts for 2011. When asked the source of new business generated over the last year some 76 per cent increased business with existing customers, 34 per cent won back business with former customers, while 18 per cent developed business with new customers.

Employment levels have generally held up well, although figures vary by sector. More than one fifth of respondents have increased full time staff numbers over the last year, with a further 61 per cent maintaining employment levels.

Respondents also highlighted a number of key challenges facing their business including the value of the euro against the pound; pressure on consumer spending; changes in purchasing behaviour; and competition between retailers. The reaction by manufacturers to these challenges has focused on cost control, efficiencies and a review of their customer portfolio which has seen more than half of respondents increase their expenditure on business development over the last year. These measures may also be seen in the context of the difficulty cited by 75 per cent of respondents of securing price increases even as ingredient costs rise. Critically it highlights the need for continuous innovation as consumers embrace the ‘new normal’ in their search for value. Some 62 per cent of respondents listed changing consumer purchasing behaviour with a focus on value for money as a key challenge for industry.

As a consequence, Irish exporters now appear to be in a better position to deal with the ongoing movements in exchange rates. The results of the survey suggest that 82 per cent could sustain an exchange rate with the pound at 1€ = 85p in the long run with 62 per cent able to sustain their business if the rate was between 85p and £1.

Finally, the current strength of global food markets is providing a benign backdrop for the industry, particularly for the primary sectors.  The FAO food price index reached an all-time high in December at 215 points, slightly higher than the previous peak in 2008 but as much as 25% higher than in December, 2009 and more than double its level, at 90 points, in 2000.  Looking ahead, the growth in world food prices is expected to remain high by historical standards while varying across commodities, with the strongest growth expected in cereals. Ireland’s grass-based livestock production systems should be well positioned to cope with these price pressures (from an input perspective) and even improve relative competitiveness.

Download the Report: Export Performance and Prospects 2010-2011.pdf

 

Additional Information

*Food Harvest 2020 – A Vision for Irish Agri-Food and Fisheries

Launched in July 2010 by An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith TD, the Food Harvest 2020 report proposes ambitious growth targets for the sector over the next ten years. The report is a strategic vision designed to place the agri-food, fishing and forestry sector at the centre of Ireland’s export led economic recovery and assure its full contribution to the economy.

Key targets include increasing the value of primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by €1.5 billion; increasing the value added in the agri-food, fisheries and wood products sector by €3 billion and achieving an export target of €12 billion for the sector.

Sectoral Analysis

 Meat & Livestock

 The combined value of meat and livestock exports grew by an estimated 9 per cent to almost €2.44 billion in 2010. The main growth drivers were increased export revenues for beef, live animals and pigmeat. The value of beef exports increased by 8 per cent or more than €110 million in 2010 as increased export volumes and stable prices helped trade. For the year, beef exports were valued at €1.51 billion.

A rise of almost 10 per cent in pigmeat export volumes coupled with largely unchanged average prices led to the value of exports rising by 10 per cent to €317 million.  Poultry exports were boosted by higher average prices for fresh/chilled products while volumes also increased as the year progressed. This resulted in the value of exports rising by an estimated 9 per cent to €200 million. 

The value of sheepmeat exports increased by 4 per cent to reach an estimated €170 million. A drop of 12 per cent in sheep supplies was more than offset by a strong price increase, which saw lamb prices rise by 17 per cent.   

The strength of live cattle and pig exports boosted the value of livestock exports, with a rise of 15 per cent, valued at €245 million.

The prospects for the meat and livestock sector in 2011 remain reasonably positive with a tight supply situation both in Ireland and across Europe expected to boost the value of beef exports. Similarly, ongoing tight supplies are expected to help maintain the value of sheepmeat exports. Feed price developments will play a critical role in both the pigmeat and poultry sectors. . Bord Bia is working with the pigmeat sector, where producers have come under the most severe pressure, to intensify marketing activities over the next six months in particular and until such time as markets improve.

Dairy Products & Ingredients

The value of exports increased by 17 per cent to reach almost €2.29 billion, helped by stronger prices, higher production in Ireland and the release of SMP (skimmed milk powder) and butter from storage.

European dairy prices increased by 7 – 40 per cent with the strongest increases evident in butter and powders, both of which had recorded significant falls in 2008 and early 2009. Cheese prices recorded slower growth but had better withstood previous price falls.

Milk output in Ireland increased strongly as the year progressed as better prices and good grass growth boosted output. For the year, total milk deliveries are estimated to have increased by more than 6 per cent. In terms of products, there was a shift towards increased cheese production while SMP output declined as did WMP (whole milk powder).

The prospects for Irish dairy exports in 2011 remain positive with demand levels in key markets likely to help price levels. However, much will depend on supply levels from other exporters, most notably New Zealand and the United States. Irish producers are better placed than most to withstand higher feed costs, given the predominantly grass based form of production.

The Irish dairy sector continues to develop a growing portfolio of products and markets. This development will become ever more critical as the ending of dairy quotas approaches and the volume of dairy products available to export increases.

Prepared Foods

Prepared food manufacturers continued to face a competitive market environment in 2010 due to a combination of price pressure from customers and rising input prices.

Overall, export values of products covered under the prepared foods category increased by an estimated 8 per cent to almost €1.4 billion. However, exports of consumer ready products, principally to the UK, recorded a drop of 6 per cent.

The strongest performing categories during the year were ready meals, ingredients for the sandwich sector, bakery and sugar confectionery. These helped to partly offset a difficult environment for other categories.  

A strong focus on product development and expanding the range of customers and markets served, helped the sector as the year progressed with a number of new listings reported across the Continent.

Improved efficiencies evident among Irish manufacturers leave them in a better position to be competitive in key markets during 2011. 

However, the strong rise in ingredient costs looks set to be maintained in 2011 and will put increased pressure on manufacturers to achieve higher returns from the marketplace. This is likely to be difficult in the current economic environment.

Beverages

Exports of beverages performed strongly in 2010 following a very challenging trade for much of 2009. The return to more normal trading conditions with higher volumes recorded across most key categories helped trade although there continued to be a strong focus on value propositions. Overall, exports are estimated to have increased by 12 per cent in 2010 to €1.19 billion.

The strongest performing categories were whiskey, cream liqueur and beer. Cider exports improved as the year progressed with a stronger performance in the UK combined with increased sales to North America, Australia and Spain helping growth in trade. 

Generally, the prospects for beverage exports remain positive for 2011 with stronger demand likely to be maintained while emerging markets continue to increase purchases of Irish beverages.

However, the sector faces challenges in the form of higher dairy and other raw material prices, and the likely abolishment of intermediary excise tax relating to wine based cream liqueurs, which will substantially raise retail prices. 

Seafood

The export market for Irish seafood showed significant improvement in 2010 as lower supplies across most species helped boost prices, while the exchange rate environment was more benign. The value of seafood exports is estimated to have increased by 18 per cent to an estimated €370 million.

The prospects for 2011 remain positive with ongoing tight supplies expected in a number of major species, most notably salmon and oysters.

Edible Horticulture & Cereals

The value of edible horticulture and cereal exports was marginally higher in 2010, estimated at €200 million. Mushroom exports to the UK put in a robust performance. The value of cereal exports improved strongly as the year progressed, while Ireland exported potatoes for the first time driven by demand from Eastern Europe towards the end of 2010.

The outlook for mushroom exports looks positive in 2011. A major EU sponsored promotion, supported by the Irish industry will take place in the UK during 2011 and continue to the end of 2013. The promotion is expected to boost sales and consequently, Irish exports. 

Bord Bia Initiatives 2011

In May 2010, Professor David E Bell and Mary Shelman of Harvard Business School presented ‘Pathways for Growth’ at Bord Bia’s Food and Drink Summit in Farmleigh. In doing so, they delivered a new perspective on pathways for growth over the next three to five years’ for the Irish food and drink industry.

Bord Bia has adopted the recommendations of the report and in the last six months has integrated them into its work programmes. This includes a specific focus on the key areas of co-opetition, branding and the customer feedback loop, innovation, entrepreneurship and education.

While we are still at an early stage, the opportunities to fuel new growth and development are becoming clear. ‘Pathways for Growth’, as now incorporated into Food Harvest 2020, will formally guide Bord Bia’s strategic focus and priorities from 2011, evolving into the necessary milestone plans to achieve specific aims and outcomes by 2020.

Specific initiatives currently underway include:

Branding and the customer feedback loop

Brand propositions and sets of values have been developed for consumer and trade testing in six international markets. These propositions occupy different and distinctive territories, linked with the essence of Ireland’s reputation, and are credible to support a “we are natural and we can prove it” brand promise.

The research commenced in late 2010 and will continue in our core export markets of the UK, Europe and the USA throughout early 2011. The sustainability/environmental stewardship standards that will be associated with usage of ‘Brand Ireland’ are also being formulated.

Co-opetition and the issue of scale

Taking a broad and open definition of the concept, Bord Bia has identified 20 projects where strategic cooperation could add value in the supply chain. Further appraisal work has clarified projects where the potential benefits are significant and where there is a willingness among management teams to engage. Five such projects are currently being advanced.

Further projects are expected to emerge as companies continue to engage in the process. Bord Bia will continue to offer a range of supports including advice, mentoring, discussion facilitation and research to projects as they develop.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Research is underway to identify the critical factors for successful innovation in Ireland to facilitate greater understanding of the attitudes to innovation and new product development among Irish food manufacturers as well as the role of insight programmes.

Bord Bia has launched the Food Entrepreneurs Network, which formally established a networking environment for food entrepreneurs. The inaugural event was used to facilitate a group of recently formed enterprise owner managers and the CEOs of larger firms to gain insights into the kind of supports they would like to see for food entrepreneurship to thrive.

Education

Bord Bia’s Marketing Fellowship is a commercially focused programme designed to broaden the Irish food industry’s global footprint. It attracts graduates with at least two years experience to focus on delivering strategic market insight and sales for companies as part of an MSc in Marketing Practice with the Smurfit Business School. The second Bord Bia Fellowship Programme commenced in July 2010. In all, 80 companies are being assisted with 100 research assignments in 12 different markets.

The Food Industry Strategic Growth Programme (FISGP): also known as the ‘food alumni’ programme, commenced in December 2010 and offers a two-year executive training programme in conjunction with Smurfit Business School. Geared specifically towards developing strategic business development skills at senior management level, the programme involves a major assignment to strategically reposition each participant’s company.

In conjunction with IBEC, Bord Bia has developed a food industry specific Export Orientation Programme (EOP). It is planned that a pilot of this extended 18 month programme, undertaken with a small number of client companies in 2010, will be rolled out to the broader food industry in 2011.


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17 Jan 2011

Export Performance and Prospects for 2010/2011

The value of Irish food and drink exports increased by 11% in 2010 to reach an estimated €7.88bn

The future of the Irish economy has become increasingly dependent on the agri-Export Performance & Prospects 2010/2011 front coverfood sector as the leading indigenous industry. The sector has taken decisive action in response to the challenging market environment with a strong focus on costs combined with investments to broaden the customer and market base served. These developments leave the sector in a stronger position to withstand the pressures created by the ongoing global economic situation and ever volatile exchange rates.

The export performance was boosted by a more stable consumer environment, somewhat reduced exchange rate pressures, improved relative competitiveness of Irish manufacturers and higher global prices for most agricultural commodities. The strength of this performance is highlighted by the fact that during the first nine months of 2010, food and drink exports accounted for 30% of the growth recorded in total merchandise exports. All major categories recorded increased export revenues in 2010 with the strongest growth evident in Dairy, Beverages, Meat and Seafood.

Looking ahead to 2011 the prospects for food and drink exports remain broadly positive, helped by relatively strong global demand for commodity products and a tight supply situation in a number of key product categories.

Click here to view the related press release - "Bord Bia: Irish Food & Drink Key Export Driver as Sales Approach €8 billion"

Download the report in (PDF format):  Export Performance and Prospects for 2010-2011

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17 Jan 2011

Having a Genuine Point of Difference - John Russell

In Italy, garden centres have a simple business motto – “Have a ‘Consuleri’ and a ‘Purple Cow’”. In other words a Consultant or mentor, and a real Point of Difference!

Many garden centres claim a point of difference – in fact I do often get a response when I pose the question. But mostly what I am told are ‘Good Quality’, ‘Good Range’, ‘Friendly, Knowledgeable Staff’. Which garden retailer would survive today without these qualities? These are not so much points of difference as necessities!

A genuine Point of Difference must embody all of the following three aspects:-

  1. Tangible – the point of difference must be clearly obvious to customers, and it must be measurable in a physical financial way. 
  2. Customer benefit – the point of difference must offer a significant benefit to a large number of customers. 
  3. Unique – the point of difference must be something that is significantly different to what competitors are offering.

    If a gardener has a choice of three garden centres to shop in your area why would they choose yours? Many garden centres claim points of difference that are necessities in modern retailing, not genuine points of difference.

    John Russell comments: Often when I am consulting, or running staff training sessions, I ask the staff or garden centre owner ‘What is your Point of Difference?’ – ‘If I drove into town and had a choice of three garden centres to visit why would I choose yours?’
    I expect to be bombarded with lots of reasons and aspects that make the particular outlet different. Instead, I am met by a lot of pondering and head scratching! If the owner and staff don’t know what makes their store special and different, how will their customers, and why will they go there?

Unless all three factors are in place there is little or no point of difference.

So how do we go about making our garden retail outlet different and special? Here are some ideas:-

  1. Make a big promise about something that frustrates customers. A good example of this is SuperQuin supermarkets in Ireland. Customer surveys found huge frustration with queues. Their response was to limit numbers in queues to two, and to limit waiting times. If they failed to achieve this, you got your groceries for free! This was a point of difference that was a) tangible, b) a benefit to the customer, c) unique. It has also been hugely successful!
     
  2. Specialise or become best in town and famous for a major product group or service. Kings Plant Barns in New Zealand were first to have large covered outdoor retail areas and covered drive through shopping – a major customer service which is a) tangible, b) a benefit to the customer, c) unique. 
    Thompson’s Plants Plus in Orange N.S.W. has the best pot and tree selections in the area. 
    In Ireland Garden Works were famous for a customer friendly layout to the garden centre – the plant area was laid out by ‘end use ‘ categories rather than by plant categories. In addition they had numerous ‘end use ‘concept / theme displays.
     
  3. Create a unique loyalty programme. This is not so easy to do in today’s market as there is a plethora of loyalty programmes being offered. Controlling costs of loyalty programmes can also be difficult. Create a programme that is based on added value, that is a) tangible, b) a benefit to the customer, c) unique.  Structure it so that it benefits both retailer and customer.
     
  4. Survey customers to see if you have a point of difference that can be enhanced. Customers have many different reasons to visit your garden centre. For a point of difference to be real it must be a major for most customers
     
  5. Create a strategic alliance with a designer or landscaper in order to offer more than competitors.
     
  6. Implement and advertise your point of difference. Having created a point of difference it is important to implement it with intensity so that it is recognized by all customers. If you are doing things differently and better than everyone else, make a big noise about it – “we have the best range of ----“, “Your only under cover garden centre”, “The ---- experts” etc.  This can be done in a number of ways – signage, information brochures, and advertising. A byline on every press or radio advertisement, every email you send to your customer database, on your Facebook site, on your website, is an excellent way to get across the message that “you are the best”!

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17 Jan 2011

Inside Japan - Rachel Doyle Visits Japanese Garden Centres.

The 52nd International Garden Centre Congress was held in Japan in October of this year. This was the first time a congress was held in Asia.
Over 200 delegates from 18 countries attended. On the study tour bus were participants from New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, England,
Hungry, U.S, Australia & myself from Ireland. It was a lovely group, lots of sharing of information from marketing, to succession planning &
everything in between. The microphone plugged into points along the bus so most people felt comfortable to share & there was no pressure
on anyone.

We flew into Tokyo and our first three days were spent in this area. It is a wonderful country steeped in tradition & culture. We visited vari-
ous gardening related business, garden centres, Japanese traditional gardens, temples and experienced the art of Bonsai from the masters. From
the ultra modern city of Tokyo we visited the Sakata Seed Corporation, a rose nursery & a flower auction.

The garden centres are not as modern as ours & only 1 had a food offering. I was very impressed with their “loos” you washed your hands on
a sink fixed to the toilet cistern & the water was then used to flush the toilet. Mind you the toilet seats were heated & played music! Many gar-
den centres had multi storey car parks, regardless of their size as space is at a premium. There were even multi storey bicycle parks.

My favourite garden was a small centre called Lobelia, it reminded me of Blackwater. They had a staff of ten people & it was a treasure. Lots of
interesting nooks & crannies & excellent quality plants & planted containers. Every inch of space was used to best effect. We had the

opportunity to try our hand at the “ikebana” style of flower arranging & also had a visit to an amazing museum of plants.

Rice is the main crop we saw growing, 10 million tons per year. There were many highlights but the one I will never forget is a visit to a tem-
ple. At 8pm we all went in & the Michael girls were doing their dance. There was a large pond, overhanging trees & strategically placed lighting.
As we entered all 200 delegates went quiet. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs this was a truly spiritual experience, impossible to capture on
camera. Congress is an amazing networking event, meeting wonderful, like minded people. I went to my first congress to Canada in 1995 &
haven’t missed one since. It’s a tax deductible trip.

Congress 2011 will be in the South Tyrol & Lake Garda area of Italy. We have put a ceiling on of 150 delegates & by the end of the Japanese
trip 105 had already registered from 16 countries. The study tour for under 40s will cost about €900. This is for the new generation of garden

centre owners. It will be for 4 days & the young people will be staying in a youth hostel. A pre tour of Tuscany is being considered.

You can visit the homepage on www.igcacongress2011.com for more info, or give me a call in the Arboretum.

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17 Jan 2011

GCAI 2011 Bus Tour

The GCAI are organising a bus tour of a selection of the best South Western UK garden centres for Spring 2011. Provisional dates are 1st & 2nd March. They plan to visit 6 award winning centres including Frosts, Van Hage, Poplars, RHS Wisley, Haskins & Stewarts Gardenland. Stay for 2 days & 1 overnight. The expected cost is €300 which includes tour guide Ian Boardman, bus, driver, overnight accommodation & dinner but exclude flights (out of & back to Dublin), lunch & drinks. To find out more or to express an interest please email anne@gio.ie

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14 Jan 2011

GardenGuide - New Consumer Gardening Program Launching Nationally on City Channel in 2011.

A New Consumer Gardening Program Launching Nationally on City Channel in 2011.


Programme Title: GardenGuide
Producer/Promoter: HortiTrends- Joseph Blair
Programme Run-time: March to October 2011 

Programme Title:
GardenGuide
Producer/Promoter: HortiTrends- Joseph Blair
Programme Run-time: March to October 2011
What is GardenGuide?
It is a new consumer focused gardening TV program that is being promoted and shown on the City Channel network and will be running throughout 2011. It will be backed up by the new consumer gardening website www.gardenguide.ie which is currently under construction but will be live before the programme airs.
The programme will be a TV half hour (24 minutes). This breaks down to 4 segments of 6 minutes that will be available for each participant company.

Why Should my company participate? OK. So you know you have a great product or service but you are not connecting with the end user? The Garden Guide format gives you the chance to get in front of a captive audience. You now have their attention! Along with outlining  the key benefits of your service or product during your slot you can also launch a strong 'Call to Action' by offering a discount for the product or service you provide during the month that you are being featured on the City Channel network. The offer will also be linked to and cross-promoted on your own website along with the www.gardenguide.ie channel along with over 20 other Social Media channels such as Facebook, Twitter etc.

More Benefits?
  • Each programme will be shown at least 24 times (including peak viewer times 6pm to 10pm) in the month that you are featured with a new programme coming online each month thus increasing the chances that viewers get to see you product or service featured as viewers will also be clicking in to www.gardenguide.ie to access current programme offers but will also be able to see past GardenGuide features.
  • The features will be shot on location, not in studio, and each of the businesses featured will get to keep their footage for their own use such as a corporate DVD to send to potential customers, an about Your Company Video on your website video plus a permanent listing on www.gardenguide.ie (under construction) and www.hortitrends.com
  • The point to remember is that they are not just a 6 minute hard selling advertisement. Whatever service or product area your business is in, we will produce a feature focusing on a particular problem your company can solve or a benefit they can deliver to the viewers. You will be presented as the expert in the field  and the company able to offer a product or service solution.
  • The programme will utilise a presenter in an interview role who will ask you about and highlight the benefits of your product or service you are offering during your feature.
What Next? Talk to Joseph to find out more about this opportunity right away. There are only 32 slots available for 2011 with a number of these already booked & confirmed.
There are still a number of Programme Launch Promotion Slots available as substantial discounts!
Don’t delay call 087 9212044 now to reserve your program slot today.
Email: jblair@HortiTrends.com Web: www.HortiTrends.com


More About City Channel: It launched local television in Dublin in October 2005. The channel is now available in approximately 400,000 homes across Ireland. This coverage is spread across the following regions 225,000 homes in Dublin, 144,000 across Munster and 30,000 in the greater Galway area.

The channel is available on the digital NTL platform in Dublin it currently reaches 57% of all multi-channel TV homes in this region. City Channel network enjoys strong analogue and digital penetration in Munster (Channel South) and Galway reaching over 47% of all Munster multi channel TV homes across the region. The addition of these homes has brought the City Channel network penetration to over 400,000 homes which creates a potential audience base of 1.2m potential viewers daily.

City Channel          

HorticultureTrends
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12 Jan 2011

Cultivate News & Events Digest

Collaborative Entrepreneurship and Innovation

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ep-flyers.jpg

A Weekend Workshop for Change Makers

Saturday & Sunday 22nd - 23rd January 2011 | 09.30 - 17.00 | €175 / Early Bird €150 ends 14th Jan Book Online Here | The Greenhouse, 17 St Andrew St, Dublin 2 | Map | PDF Invite

In these challenging times how can we use collaborative forms of leadership, innovation, fundraising and community building to strengthen our entrepreneurial and change projects?

This workshop introduces:
  • The U-process, offering a set of principles and practices for collectively creating the future that wants to emerge; a breakthrough methodology for collaborative innovation and accessing deeper wisdom
READ MORE...
 

The Economics of Happiness

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happiness-film.jpgWednesday, 2nd February 2011 | 19:30 | €5 | Sugar Club, Lower Lesson Street, Dublin 2 

Cultivate, in association with FEASTA, Grow It Yourself, Transition Towns Ireland and Northern Ireland, Slow Food Ireland, Happenings, Green Works and the International Society for Ecology and Culture present...

A special Dublin screening of The Economics of Happiness. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with the director and special guests including economist Richard Douthwaite of FEASTA, journalist and founder of GIY Mick Kelly, educator Suzie Cahn from Transition Ireland and Northern Ireland and networker Sarah Fleming,  Slow Food International.  Davie Philip, the Community Resilience coordinator from Cultivate, will chair the discussion.

Information from each of the organisations involved (listed above) will be available and the evening will act as an informal social and networking opportunity for those active in building the local economy.

 

What is Second Republic?

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2nd-republic.jpg

Second Republic is a movement of people who are organising to campaign for the establishment of a National Convention in Ireland. That convention, like one currently running in Iceland, will re-examine every facet of how we organise ourselves as a State.

The current crisis leaves no doubt that our State, as it is currently established, is unfit to properly manage our affairs.  A state that becomes as indebted as Ireland is clearly in need of reform. We want to take this moment and see it not as a time of despair but as an opportunity to rebuild.

Our campaign is one that seeks to put the question of Ireland’s future in the people’s hands. And you can join in too!

Setting the agenda for reform

Second Republic is about setting an agenda, not pushing a particular vision of Ireland. We want to place genuine political reform at the forefront of a national debate and see the People of Ireland decide the shape a reborn Ireland should take.

 

upstart.jpgUpStart is a non-profit arts collective (view an intro video)which aims to put creativity at the centre of public consciousness during the Irish General Election Campaign in 2011. We plan to do this by reinterpreting the spaces commonly used for displaying election campaign posters in Dublin City and are calling on all artists to submit work for this exhibition.

The objectives of UpStart are to encourage a debate on the role of the arts in this state. We hope to highlight the importance of creativity and ingenuity when society is in need of direction and solutions, and to emphasize the value of the arts to public life. We believe that the future development of the country requires a healthy cultivation of the Arts.

We are asking for submissions to this project from the full range of artistic disciplines. Our aim is to receive 500 submissions from writers and visual artists, photographers, painters and graphic designers. These works will be duplicated and 1000 pieces will be printed as election size posters and be erected throughout Dublin city. We are also accepting works from musicians and film makers which will be hosted and exhibited through our website which will be launched on the day of the electoral poster campaign.

UpStart comprises artists and writers from Ireland and abroad and are non-aligned to any political party. UpStart respects and follows Dublin City Council litter regulations and operates within the requirements of Irish law.

 

Green Works - Upskill for the Green Economy

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Free training for jobseekers | green-works.ieGreen Works

Interested?  Please fill-in an Expression of Interest Form Dublin Hub:  Cultivate, The Greenhouse, St Andrew St, Dublin 2 (map) 

Green Works offers courses at Cultivate, both in Dublin and the Eco Village in Cloughjordan, Tipperary, and at our partner hubs in Cork and Sligo (with other locations coming on line soon).  The training is aimed at educating and upskilling the workforce, preparing students for growing opportunities within Ireland’s green economy. Students will benefit from a wide variety of themed courses, FETAC certificates, workshops, work placements, lectures, networking and more.

 

Cultivate Members' Meetings

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Join us for our monthly meetings where we share ideas, watch films, set challenges, and discuss current issues all within the framework of living sustainably and understanding sustainability locally and globally. Our meetings have been running for over three years and bring the Cultivate community together for a bit of mutual appreciation . So do come along!  

Mark your calendars...  The future dates of members' meetings are: 20 December 2010 - 7pm | 24 Jan 2011 – 7pm | 21 Feb 2011 – 7pm | 28 March 2011 - 7pm | 18 April 2011 – 7pm | 30 May 2011 – 7pm | 20 June 2011 – 7pm

All meetings are at The Greenhouse, 17 St Andrew St, Dublin 2 (map)

 
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11 Jan 2011

CABE News UK

GreenSpace news
Full green space advocacy document released 
GreenSpace has published an extended version of its Blue Sky Green Space advocacy document, comprehensively highlighting the benefits of parks, drawing from a substantial evidence base.

The well-received executive summary of the document was presented to ministers last year on behalf of GreenLINK to keep green spaces on the political agenda. The paper outlines the many benefits that a diverse range of quality green spaces bring, covering health; communities; economic and environmental value. Blue Sky Green Space is intended to be a collaborative, fluid format - reacting appropriately to the latest research - and will be updated accordingly. More

GreenLINK brings together, at a national level, organisations that are active in the parks and green space sector. Participating organisations include charities and trusts, social enterprises and other non-governmental bodies. The next meeting will take place on 21 January. Please email Sarah Cox at sarahc@green-space.org.uk for more information. 

GreenSpace stepping up social media activity
The new year has signalled the launch of GreenSpace’s new social media action plan. Increased activity on Twitter will allow us to spread information and respond to enquiries as quickly as possible. This feed will be particularly useful for sharing daily news and events that haven’t made it into The Bench. To stay up-to-date with sector news, or to ask us a question, see www.twitter.com/GreenSpaceUK . 

The GreenSpace Community Network will also be looking to engage with the public through Facebook, and is set to unveil its page in the coming weeks. Membership to the Community Network is free to all community groups, with benefits including knowledge sharing and discounts on many GreenSpace offerings. More 

Also in 2011...
GreenSpace will be exhibiting at green and ethical lifestyle show UK Aware on 25-26 March 2011. Our magazine Green Places is a media sponsor of the event. The show is taking place during Climate Week, a national campaign week against climate change, which we are also supporting.

Not a professional but still interested in parks?
The Community Bench is a newsletter dedicated to members of the community who would like to keep up to date with the latest developments affecting their green space. The Community Bench provides updates on news, funding avenues and events, as well as profiling members of community groups across the country to help spread learning and good practise. Sign up here

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Sector news
CABE Space publishes guide to successful green space management
CABE Space has released a new document examining how the organisation and structuring of parks and green space services affects their performance.

'Managing green spaces: seven ingredients for success’ brings together evidence to assist green space managers, corporate decision-makers and advisors in deciding the future of services. It sets out seven ‘ingredients for success. and outlines the resources that green space managers can draw on to describe the critical services that green spaces provide to local communities. A summary of the research is published on the CABE website, and a full version is available here.

Following its loss of funding, CABE's online presence is now an archived version of the organisation's website as of 1 January 2011. Although the site will no longer be updated. the permanent archive, provided by the National Archive, will still be of great value to practitioners in the sector, particularly the technical advice section specifically for green space managers. More 

Parks across the UK receive Lottery cash boost
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) have announced the latest round of confirmed funding for parks through their joint Parks for People funding programme. Wandle Park in Croydon receives £1.9 million to restore its original Victorian features and The Green in Allerdale, Cumbria has been allocated £1.2 million will partly go towards training for up to 80 new staff. 

HLF has also separately awarded £2.5 million to Aberdeen’s Duthie Park and £820,000 to Cwmdonkin Park in Swansea, while a further 11 parks have received first-round passes. A full list of parks and their planned spending areas are detailed on the HLF website, accompanied by a quote from GreenSpace General and Business Development Manager David Tibbatts praising the continued Lottery funding. More 

Royal approval for the role of parks
The Queen’s Christmas message focused on the value of play and exercise to the nation, particularly recognising the health benefits of such activities as the 2012 Olympics draw nearer. In her address to the nation, the Queen paid tribute to the sport played by those “in the parks of towns and cities and on village greens up and down the country.” These visits, she added, “play a part in providing a different perspective on life.” More 

2011 - International year of forests
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Events taking place throughout the year are designed to raise awareness and promote ‘forests for people’. More 

Parks services recognised in national awards night
The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Performance Networks Awards 2010 were held in December. The awards celebrate the best performers from local councils in frontline public services and those services that have made the most improvement on performance.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council was awarded 'top performer' in the parks, open spaces and horticultural services category. 'Most improved performer' in the category was Dumfries and Galloway Council. Both winners were presented their awards by Kirsty Rhind, forum manager of GreenSpace North West, who sponsored the awards category.

APSE’s Performance Networks service hosts the UK’s largest voluntary data benchmarking group for local councils, which helps them to improve value for money and quality in local public services. More 

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Diary dates
For a full list of upcoming events in the sector, visit the GreenSpace sector events page.

20 January 2011
SUDS foundation course
Organiser: CIRIA
Location: London
Contact: www.ciria.org 
A one-day training programme to enable practitioners to efficiently plan, design, construct and manage SUDs schemes.

2 February 2011
Natural Connections: the role of green space in connecting people to their local environment
Organiser: Countryside Recreation Network 
Location: Sheffield
Contact: www.countrysiderecreation.org.uk 
A one-day conference exploring the changes in the concepts of 'natural' and 'outdoors', and what this means for the services that green spaces provide and how it is managed - as a component or urban and rural infrastructure.

10 February 2011
Inspecting Play Areas - cutting the cost
Organiser: London Play 
Location: London
Contact: www.londonplay.org.uk 
A morning seminar showing how significant savings can be made and systems improved by reducing paperwork and having a smarter approach to inspections.

14 February 2011
Green Flag demonstration day
Organiser: GreenSpace East Midlands 
Location: Shipley Country Park, Derbyshire
Contact: www.green-space.org.uk/eastmidlands 
A one-day event to learn about the scheme, its award categories and their criteria, site and assessments, mystery shopper, the scheme timetable and benefits of winning an award. The day will achieve this through presentations, examples, outdoor activities and a site visit.

22 February 2011
Enhancing sites for natural play
Organiser: Environmental Training Network 
Location: Birmingham
Contact: shop.btcv.org.uk 
A one-day course to explore the process of enhancing sites for children’s natural play in parks, country parks, heritage sites, school grounds, play areas and other open spaces. 

23 February 2011
Improving access to paths
Organiser: Paths for All 
Location: West Lothian
Contact: www.pathsforall.org.uk 
A one-day course providing essential information for improving access to paths for everyone in the countryside. Learn to evaluate your own path provision in order to make reasonable adjustments, improving accessibility to a wider range of users.

    


Regards
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11 Jan 2011

Artificial GardenGrass Spoiling the Chickens

The Lohmann Brown hens in the first Rondeel poultry house in Barneveld are faring well: courtesy of the artificial grass system of GardenGrass. The success of the initiative prompted the decision to install artificial grass in Rondeel’s second revolutionary poultry farm in Wintelre, in the province of Noord-Brabant (Netherlands).

 

GardenGrass artificial grass for poultry house

The Rondeel facility is a unique housing concept for laying hens. The concept is the culmination of extensive research undertaken at Wageningen University, which set out to explore the options for a sustainable future for laying hen husbandry. The first Rondeel facility was opened in the Dutch town of Barneveld in April 2010. Construction of the second Rondeel facility commenced in September.

In a nutshell, the concept consists of night quarters and day quarters. The night quarters provide for the hen’s primary needs: eating, sleeping, resting and laying eggs. The day quarters are designed to meet the hen’s natural needs such as scratching and dust bathing. The Rondeel facility is the ultimate example of economic and corporate social responsibility: respect for animal welfare, the environment and economic gains.

The role of artificial grass in the Rondeel facility

The aim of the initiators was to introduce a true-to-nature concept into the hens’ day quarters. In other words: to simulate the hens’ natural outdoor environment indoors. Not natural grass, which would have a limited life span, but artificial grass. GardenGrass was the only supplier willing to take up the challenge of fitting the entire Day Quarters out with artificial grass, allowing the hens to move around freely, scratch and peck at the ground.

Initial results are encouraging, suggesting that the intended beneficial effects have been established: healthy, vibrant hens producing a high egg yield. Those positive results provided much of the impetus for introducing the second facility so soon after the first. This Rondeel facility will also be equipped with the GardenGrass system. A sustainable solution for an equally sustainable concept.

News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
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11 Jan 2011

Salon Du Vegetal 2011 - New Plant Entries

Discover the 47 entries for the novelties competition Innovert®


A new genus, a new cultivar, a marketing concept... The Innovert® competition recognizes new plants and the most significant innovations in the varietal and commercial fields.
Discover the 47 entries for the novelties competition Innovert®.

Discover the products:
Category A - « New plant »
Category B - « Commercial plant innovation »
Category C - « Non plant products »

Download the pictures:
 - one by one, in high definition :
Category A - « New plant » 
Category B - « Commercial plant innovation » 
Category C - « Non plant products »
 - all the pictures classified by category, in high definition:
Category A (Zip 55Mo) - « New plant » 
Category B (Zip 11Mo) - « Commercial plant innovation » 
Category C (Zip 19Mo) - « Non plant products » 

    

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10 Jan 2011

Bord Bia News Digest

Bord Bia Food Alert

Bord Bia has a weekly on line “Food Alert” bulletin which you can access at www.bordbia.ie/foodalert

It highlights key trends in the local and global food and drinks market. There is a piece in it this week on the domestic retail market for prepared vegetable/fruit products.   

The Bord Bia Marketing Assistance Programme

Applications are now being invited for the Bord Bia Marketing Assistance Programme (MAP).
 The Marketing Assistance Programme (MAP) provides financial support to food, drink and horticulture companies, to help them improve their marketing techniques and capabilities, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and hygiene. Food, drink and horticulture companies that process and market agricultural products and operate directly from Ireland are eligible for support. The programme is open to SMEs with a minimum annual turnover of €100,000 in the year of application and a maximum turnover of €3.5million. The principal areas for which support (up to a maximum of 60%) is available include Trade Fairs and Exhibitions; Marketing, Design & New Product Development and Quality Measures. Eligibility does not confer an automatic entitlement to aid. The selection process is a competitive one. The closing date for receipt of applications is 28th February 2011. For further information on the application process go to www.bordbiavantage.ie

Brassica Seminar

Brassica growers are invited to attend a Brassica seminar which will take place on Thursday 20th of January commencing at 1.30pm in the Cereals building at Teagasc, Oakpark, Carlow. The seminar is being organized jointly by Teagasc and Bord Bia. The seminar will be addressed by two experts from the UK who will update attendees on Brassica pest control and herbicide availability for weed control. Further details can be obtained by contacting your local Teagasc field vegetable advisor.   

Keep Yourself updated! Click Here to Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors In Ireland www.HortiTrends.com 

Click Here! to Promote Your Business and Grow Your Trade on Irelands Leading Business2Businesss Horticulture Directory of Supplies & Services www.HortiTrends.com

News . Horticulture B2B Directory . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 

Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture, Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors.

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7 Jan 2011

NEWS - International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration & International Federation of Landscape Architects sign Memorandum of Understanding

Members of both Ifpra and Ifla have many values and objectives in common and the relationship between the two Organisations was taken forward through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the recent Ifpra Asia Pacific Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand.


In addition to creating mutual web links and support of members' professional needs through joint development, commitment and action, both Organisations will provide representatives to work on mutual relevant work programmes. Ifpra and Ifla have agreed to support the principles of the ICOMOS Venice Charter to develop a World Landscape Charter that incorporates concern for the preservation and enhancement of the world environment and sensitive development of both natural and cultural landscapes within it, in order to enhance the quality of life.

The two Organisations are to work together to develop international policy on environmental and educational issues of mutual interest, to achieve a more effective 'voice' in international fora.

Rob Small, President of Ifpra, states:

The International Federation of parks and Recreation is delighted to be joining forces with the International Federation of Landscape architects through this memorandum of understanding. The elements of built and soft landscapes in our urban environments are more significant than many people realise on our health and well-being, our sense of place, our environment and the economy of our cities. We are looking forward to working on joint initiatives that we hope will have a profound impact on preserving our cultural landscapes, and further the liveability of our communities.

Diane Menzies, President of Ifla, states:

Ifla welcomes the agreement. We have much in common and many landscape architects work in park design and management. I am sure a closer working relationship will benefit both our memberships. 

News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
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7 Jan 2011

NEWS - Price Yourself Back into the Market by John Stanley

The downturn in retail sales has resulted in many retailers around the world introducing a discount strategy to try and survive. This strategy is a relatively a short term measure and many retailers were hoping the downturn would be a short lived phenomena. The downturn, in many countries, has been longer than most experts predicted and the discount strategy has now completed its lifecycle. Purchasing at a discounted price has become a norm for many consumers and it is time to break the cycle for many businesses to develop.

To continue a discount retail strategy will result in more retail businesses closing their doors for good and as a result reduce the choice available to the consumer.

So where does the retailer go from here in the pricing game?

1]
  
% Sales

A number of ideas have come to light over the last few months that could help us rethink how we price products and get consumers to start buying again.

The January sales seem to be starting earlier and earlier. I was in Germany in mid December and they had already started in the clothing sector, even before the Christmas rush of shopping. What intrigued me was that it was obvious that a sale was taking place, but it was not obvious how big the sale offer was. Gone were the 50% off, 70% off signs that I discussed on my internet TV program Retail Globe Report in the past twelve months. These were replaced with a
  
“%” signs over products and on promotions. The consumer actually had to look at the individual price signs to gauge the discount. This meant that the retailer could alter the discount as they felt appropriate.

This was a common retail technique across the whole of retailing
  
and was not just the odd store that has taken on this practise. What I liked about the system was that it caught the consumers’ eye, encouraged them into the store and forced them to be more focused on their browse shopping. One store I went into cleverly placed the products. The new ,full priced products were displayed at the front of the store and the biggest discounted sale items were located to the rear of the store.

2] Decoy Pricing

This is a technique that has proved to work in the restaurant industry and I am sure will work for some other retailers. I came across it in a blog by Roger Dooley entitled “Neuro-Menus and Restaurant Psychology”

The principle is that you price an inferior product at a close price point to a genuine great quality product with the aim of boosting sales of the higher priced product. The two products need to be located near to each other to enable the consumer to price compare and they both need to be heavily signed. This system could work where you are offering a small and large version of the same product. Put the price up of the smaller product to make the larger product look more attractive to the consumer.

3] Romance the Sale

This is a technique used by the perfume industry, food retailers and plant sellers.  

It is a simple technique where you literally romance the product in the words you use to promote the product. If you are not sure how the system works, pick up a women’s magazine and look at the words used to promote products in the adverts. As I write this article I have a magazine next to me and the words in the adverts include:

“This season the rules are being rewritten with a trend ... ” what a great way to sell a new product, in this case it was lipstick.

“Feel, Imagine, Enjoy” to sell a perfume.

And

“Splash out on Timeless Treats”  to sell blouses.

How can you develop in-store romance promotions using emotional  selling?

4 ] Priceless Pricing

 Priceless Pricing is another example from the restaurant industry that I have seen used many times in my webinars on my Members Club. The research indicates that if you remove the “$” sign when pricing the average sale goes up. If restaurants price a meal at $14.55 it will sell less that if it was priced at 14.55.  The removal of the  $, £,  or  sign can make a big different to the bottom line.

Take a fresh look at your pricing strategy and consider how you can manipulate it to increase sales. Often the consumer will not notice. I worked with one client in the garden industry where we changed the price based on whether a plant was in flower or not. The consumer expects to pay more when the plant is in flower. Your job is not to disappoint them.

John Stanley is a retail business coach, speaker and author.  He has authored several successful marketing and retail books,  produces a monthly internet TV program Retail Globe Report on retail trends as well as monthly e-training for his Club Members on his website.  As a CSP John is considered one of the top ten percent of speakers in the world.   John Stanley helps retailers: Increase sales per square metre,  increase the average sale per customer, better manage stock, merchandise and display to maximise potential, market more effectively to convert lookers into buyers.  Visit www.johnstanley.com.au  to join his Members Club or for information on how he can help you grow your business or email linda@johnstanley.com.au

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5 Jan 2011

Colour your Life News Letter


January 2011
Happy New Year! 

Here we are again, the old year is just a memory and (hopefully) everyone is filled with optimism for 2011. Our mission for the New Year is truly to ‘Colour your Lives’! 

Resources

This means equipping retailers with the tools they need to get even better results in their planterias than they did in 2010. Go online at www.colour-your-life.co.uk to see the new suite of materials plus the full listof promotional themes for the coming year. Materials are available directly from the website, via the on-line poster service or to create directly from the special CD ROM (drop us a line if you need one and we’ll send it out). The flexibility is there so that whatever medium works best for you – you can choose it. For established users, you’ll notice some exciting innovations and improvements, including the possibility to scale your logo to whatever size suits you.

Communication

The digital newsletter has proved to be a fantastic success with more retailers reading and benefiting from it every month. 

Feedback suggests that it is a targeted and efficient way for people to access campaign stories and news – Do you know someone who would benefit from this newsletter ?
 
If you do, contact us on contact@colour-your-life.co.uk and we’ll add them to the list. Also look out for your hard-copy newsletter too. It’s full of good stories and campaign info and will be with you any day now.


January promo – Heavenly heathers

Taking Erica as our plant focus, materials for January highlight the winter beauty of Erica carnea and other winter flowering heaths and heathers, including. ‘Golden Starlet’ (white flowers and yellow to lime green foliage), ‘Myretoun Ruby’ (magenta-crimson flowers), or 'Nathalie' yields (red flowers and dark foliage). 

January is not too early to entice customers out into the planteria, as long as you have some seasonal stunners like this with which to tempt them. And it’s not just the plants that you should promote – the stories can be a great way to grab customers’ attention too. 

Great stories!

All heaths and heathers are an important pollen source for our beleaguered bee population – grow them and do your bit. Erica carnea also harbours a bit of a saucy secret... Let’s just say that it’s got the ‘power’ to see the plants flying through the tills!

So what's the secret?


Play your cards right and get loyalty from your customers!

A well marketed Loyalty or Reward scheme is a great way of engaging with your customers and get them returning to you time and time again!  A recent report by the Maximiles Group found that 60% of consumers believe a reward programme “strengthens their relationship with the brand”.  

Another survey carried out by Loyalty specialist ICLP found that Tesco and Boots topped the poll of retailers shoppers have the strongest relationship with. Both of these retail giants have loyalty schemes which are probably the most popular in the UK.  Stuart Evans, ICLP UK general manager says: “It is clear that customers want something in return for their loyalty. When UK shoppers feel the pinch of the VAT increase next year, this call will surely get louder and go out to more and more top UK brands."


So what can you do to keep your customers?


We don't like to blow our own trumpet....

So we let others do it for us!

Over the last few months we have heard from retailers who find our campaign an asset to their business; this month we hear from Louise Canfield. 

Louise is in charge of POS at a major independent garden centre in Hertfordshire.

 
What does Louise have to say?


 
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4 Jan 2011

Garden and Landscape Design Seminar

Garden and Landscape Design Seminar
When:
29 January 2011 
Where:
National Botanic Gardens - Dublin
Category:
Horticulture & Fresh Produce Events Ireland

Description

Inspired: What drives successful design?

Design is borne of many things; Ego, empathy , passion, skill, history, belief, knowledge, vision, bravery, economy and emotion all play their part in stimulating designers to solve problems, satisfy desires and overcome challenges. What drives and constitutes successful design is a somewhat more complex issue. While consensus may be reached on intent, function and aesthetics, the shifting sands of time alter perception, attitude and environment making it an essentially ephemeral agreement; And one which design professionals have debated for eons.

To frame a contemporary vision of what drives successful design, the Garden and Landscape Design Association (GLDA) have enlisted the genius of some of Europe’s most respect design professionals for a day of insight, opinion and debate.
 
Now in its 15th successful year, the GLDA design seminar, which is aptly entitled, Inspired:What drives successful design? Will take place on Saturday 29th of January at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. The speaker line-up for the eagerly awaited 2011 seminar features multi award-winning design professionals of national and international acclaim, including Tom Stuart-Smith, Róisín Heneghan of Heneghan Peng Architects, Hugh Ryan MGLDA and James Doyle of James Doyle Associates.

As the design calendar event of the year places are already being snapped up. To secure your place at this exciting event you are encouraged to book early. 

For tickets and further information contact the GLDA office on: 01 2940092, info@glda.ie or via www.glda.ie.

This event is proudly supported by Bord Bia, Ireland’s Food Board.

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4 Jan 2011

GLDA Ireland

Who are we?

The GLDA is an association of qualified and experienced garden designers and landscape architects who are also plant experts, which was formed in 1995 to set and maintain the highest professional standards in the field. The founders believed there was a need for a truly professional umbrella organisation, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, and that such an Association would bring immense benefits and security to the public, the designers and the future of garden-making and landscaping in Ireland.

Before becoming a Full Member, each applicant is rigorously assessed by an external panel of professionals, made up of acknowledged experts from the design, horticultural, and academic sides of the profession.

Objectives
  • To set standards for garden and landscape design.
  • To raise public awareness of garden and landscape designers and the services they have to offer.
  • To liaise with relevant organisations in order to provide comprehensive education and ongoing training for members.
  • To facilitate the exchange of information between members, suppliers and the public.

What The GLDA Does

The faith of those early members was not misplaced. Within a few short years the GLDA has grown to become a dynamic force for good, which is now at the forefront of the revolution in Irish gardening. Through its ongoing training opportunities in drawing and surveying, its practical workshops and field trips, its intelligence gathering network, and most publicly, its highly acclaimed annual international design seminar, the GLDA disseminates new information on methods, techniques and current best practice in landscape design and horticulture, and has created a new demand for improved quality and increased availability of a much wider and more interesting selection of plants.

GLDA Council:
David Shortall - Chairman
Jane McCorkell - Treasurer
Sheena Vernon - Compass Editor
Gary Foran - Hon Secretary
Brian O'Hara
Peter Fitzpatrick (new)
Colm Doyle (new)
Tim Austen (new)

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4 Jan 2011

UK Bee Scientists to Force Killer Mites to Self Destruct

Scientists may be able to halt global honey bee losses by forcing the deadly Varroa mite, lethal in the freezing weather, to self destruct.

The blood-sucking Varroa is the biggest killer of honey bees world-wide, having developed resistance to beekeepers’ medication. It is particularly destructive in winter as depleted colonies do not have enough bees huddling together to keep warm.

Now researchers from the Government’s National Bee Unit and Aberdeen University have worked out how to ‘silence’ natural functions in the mites’ genes to make them self destruct.

Bee and varroa mite

Dr. Alan Bowman from the University of Aberdeen said:

“Introducing harmless genetic material encourages the mites’ own immune response to prevent their genes from expressing natural functions. This could make them self destruct. 

“The beauty of this approach is that it is really specific and targets the mites without harming the bees or, indeed, any other animal.”

Dr Giles Budge from National Bee Unit, part of the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), said:

“This cutting edge treatment is environmentally-friendly and poses no threat to the bees. With appropriate support from industry and a rigorous approval process, chemical-free medicines could be available in five to ten years.”

Environment Minister Lord Henley said:

“Bees are essential to putting food on our table and worth £200m to Britain every year through pollinating our crops. This excellent work by UK scientists will keep our hives healthy and bees buzzing.”

The process uses the Nobel Prize-winning theory ‘RNA interference’, which controls the flow of genetic information. So far the ‘silencing’ has worked with a neutral Varroa gene, which has no significant effect on the mite. Scientists now need to target a gene with the specific characteristics that are perfect to force the Varroa to self destruct.

Tests by other scientists have shown the treatment can be added to hives in bee feed. The bees move it into food for their young, where the Varroa hides.

Varroa facts

  • The Varroa mite, like a brown crab, is the biggest global killer of honey bees.
  • It originally attacked the Asian honeybee but jumped to the European honeybee, which has a poor natural defence.
  • The mite injects viruses, suppresses the bees’ immune system and feeds on blood.
  • Beekeepers use chemical controls but can never eradicate it and over the past decade the Varroa developed resistance to some medication.
  • If untreated, or given inappropriate chemicals, it can take just 1,000 mites to kill a colony of 50,000 bees.
  • Honey bees are worth £200m to the UK economy a year through pollinating crops
  • The Varroa mite entered the UK in 1992.
  • Honey bee populations have dropped by 23 per cent since 1992, potentially costing the economy millions of pounds.
  • In 1992 there were 23,767 beekeepers and 151,924 colonies. In 2010 there have been 21,000 beekeepers, and 116,500 colonies.
  • In summer an average colony has 30,000 to 50,000 honey bees.
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4 Jan 2011

Happy 10th Birthday to Donegan Landscaping

Peter Looks Back on his First 10 years!


On January 3rd 2001 I borrowed the tools for my first job and began creating my first garden under the name of Peter Donegan Landscaping Ltd.

I had just returned from Scotland and had rented the front room of the house from were I slept and worked. I was still, by 2 or 3 months, 24 years of age. Not the prettiest start, maybe, but I had to start somewhere….

A friend designed a logo and made me one t-shirt and one fleece jacket. Some headed paper and business cards were made. At the time I borrowed a friends fax line number so ‘I looked more professional’. I also used my folks home address. I bought a second hand computer [that couldn't work the internet] and printer for IR£80 and I was, put in extremely simple terms, in business.

 

I don’t have many images from that or the early years. Digital cameras weren’t out then. I did find this promo flyer that was done in that year and this image from January 2004 is the earliest I know of not on a photo negative.

 

I was trying to think of some firsts/ milestones for this post… 10 years is a long time. These are the few that immediately come to mind….

  • My first garden was created for Mary Stephenson in Howth Co. Dublin. Mary recently helped me organiseThe garden Groups trip to Irelands Eye.
  • The first award I was nominated for was the best new business award in 2001 by The Fingal Chamber of Commerce.
  • The first article printed about Peter Donegan Landscaping Ltd was in March 2004 in the Irish Entrepreneur Magazine entitled ‘Getting Dirty’. It hangs in my bathroom to this day.
  • October 23rd 2004 my first article for The Farmers Journal was published were I continued to write regularly for about 4 years.

But then there’s also some nice reading that tells the story well on the home and about pages.

These words that I have used for many years probably summise what I want to say quite well. Here’s to another 10 years. Thank you.

Whilst I flicked through my diary and realised just how much I actually had done… it should be noted that none of this would make any sense without someone to share the stories, the laughter and equally the tears with. I am forever greatful to the so many great friends and people I have met along this years road. From my heart, thank you.

Did I enjoy it? Every second. Don’t get me wrong… no road is an easy an easy one especially when I work in an industry that is so weather dependant and I am self employed. That is not a complaint…. more an additional reason to appreciate the people who stand tall by my side when times are a little tougher. You were there too when we laugh our socks off.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh. Thank you again, everyone, for everything.

Peter

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4 Jan 2011

Collaborative Entrepreneurship and Innovation

A Weekend Workshop for Change Makers

ep-flyers.jpg

Saturday & Sunday 22nd - 23rd January 2011 | 09.30 - 17.00 | €175 / Early Bird €150 ends 14th Jan Book Online Here | The Greenhouse, 17 St Andrew St, Dublin 2 | Map | PDF Invite

In these challenging times how can we use collaborative forms of leadership, innovation, fundraising and community building to strengthen our entrepreneurial and change projects?

This workshop introduces:

  • The U-process, offering a set of principles and practices for collectively creating the future that wants to emerge; a breakthrough methodology for collaborative innovation and accessing deeper wisdom
  • How to best use social networking to create business possibilities and to stimulate inspired actions
  • Crowd Funding: Rethinking the way we finance our projects and initiatives, beyond bank loans, through collaborative efforts that make full use of the internet and new social media tools
  • Community Enterprise models that are more than just individuals pursuing their own interests
  • Green Entrepreneurship with a focus on upskilling the workforce for the growing opportunities within Ireland’s Green Economy 

This workshop is highly interactive and features short presentations from leading practitioners. Our learning will grow out of everyone’s contributions and presence. We will
support each other as co-learners. We will learn by observation, through stories from experienced practitioners, through reflecting on our own experience and practice, using interactive processes to build a safe and inspiring learning environment. We invite you to a collective inquiry.

Biographies of Facilitators

Simone Poutnik is a social entrepreneur, designer and facilitator of
collaborative innovation processes. She initiated and co-founded the Hub
Brussels - an inspiring space for people with ideas for a better world and
Natural Innovation, where she works with diverse groups of people from
government, business, non-profit and art organisations on experiential
learning and collaborative innovation for resilient futures.
www.natural-innovation.net

Hendrik Tiesinga designs and facilitates collaborative learning
and innovation processes in the field of sustainability in business and
social innovation. He is a co-founder of Natural Innovation and the Finance
Innovation Lab, a multi-stakeholder collaboration for sustainable
innovation in the financial sector in the UK. His other projects range from
collaborative space design to multi-stakeholder labs on metropolitan
agriculture.
www.natural-innovation.net

Chris Chapman is an experienced facilitator and host who specialises
in creating safe spaces to support deep and transformational work.
He is fascinated with how we blend individual, collective and global agendas
and how we can support the development of leaders fit for the times
we are in.
www.changeexploratory.com

Davie Philip is the Communications Manager at the Green Works
Tipperary Hub and runs the Community Resilience programme at Cultivate.
He lives in the Ecovillage in Cloughjordan and is currently the coordinator
for the Transition Network in Ireland and sits on the board of
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
www.green-works.ie | www.cultivate.ie

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4 Jan 2011

‘Your Business, Your Bank’ guide launched

A new 17-page guide designed to help small businesses develop better relationships with banks and access credit has been launched.

‘Your Business, Your Bank’  was prepared by the Credit Supply Clearing Group and offers advice for businesses, focusing on relationship-building, ensuring confidence and accessing credit.

Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe welcomed the launch and said…

The guide outlines various funding options open to businesses, provides an insight into what banks are looking for when examining credit applications, imparts information on credit pricing, and reveals practical tips on how to package credit applications

The guide takes into account the significant changes in the economic climate and credit requirements.

Minister O’Keeffe continued…

Before 2008, most credit applications were for loans for new capital investments but the severe economic downturn has brought about a dramatic shift in that trend.

This guide is timely in setting out the funding options for small businesses, outlining how they can access the kind of credit they need, and drawing together multiple stakeholders across Government and the enterprise community towards the common cause of recovery in the domestic economy,

The Credit Supply Clearing Group was setup by the Government in May last year.

The guide will compliment a new standard credit application form created by the Credit Review Office, designed to provide banks with all the information required to assess an credit application.

The following link is to a PDF file   The full guide can be viewed here 200kb pdf

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21 Dec 2010

New Director of the National Botanic Gardens Dublin



Dr. Matthew Jebb MA, DPhil (Oxon) has been appointed, by the Office of Public Works, as the new Director of the National Botanic Gardens, and took up the post from the 1st September. A graduate of Oxford University and former researcher at Trinity College, Dr Jebb has lived for over 5 years in Papua New Guinea, and has been Keeper of the Herbarium and Taxonomist (Ainmneoir Plandai) at the National Botanic Gardens since 1998. He has represented Europe as a vice-president on the bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and is currently Chairman of PlantNetwork, the Plant Collections Network of Britain and IrelandSee here for more information on Matthew Jebb. . .

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21 Dec 2010

Trinity Centre for Biodiversity Research

The Centre’s focus is on conserving Biodiversity in a changing world where sustainability of natural resources is a challenging but important goal. It is crucial in ensuring that our global society can develop to its full potential within awell-protected environment, balancing economic, social and environmental demands – the three 'pillars' of sustainability. Sustainable utilisation of the natural world and its biodiversity requires wide, cross-disciplinary analysis including natural and social sciences, engineering solutions, economic assessment and strategic planning; combining them to provide effective transformations towards a more sustainable society.

Farming in Thailand

Farming in Thailand

Biodiversity is defined as the variability among living organisms from all sources including the ecological complexes of which they are part. It is the foundation of ecosystem services upon which human well-being depends. However, biodiversity is being lost at an unprecedented rate, which is eroding our capacity to sustain the planet. Given the recent recognition of climate change as a key driver for biodiversity loss, in association with historical challenges of habitat and land use change, the conservation of biodiversity is at the core of sustainable development. It is only through the utilisation of the living environment in a renewable fashion that we can achieve a sustainable future.

The Centre for Biodiversity Research represents a core of skilled academic researchers in the field and aims to promote innovative and interdisciplinary research encompassing all aspects affecting the natural world. The Centre is the first of its kind in Ireland and is a flagship initiative for the School of Natural Sciences and for Trinity College and has strong links with other centres working on related topics

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21 Dec 2010

ITB Horticulture Students Available for Work Experience in 2011

As part of the four year programme, they have 2 groups of students going out on placement; 1st years and 2nd years, both are free to start placement immediately following the exams in May (date for 2011 – Thursday 26th May). All placements must be approved by ITB before the student commences any work placement.

 

1st years
 must complete a period of no less than 4 weeks which can be extended until the student is due back to college in Sept.

 

2nd years
 must complete a period of no less than 16 weeks, and again this can be extended until the student is due back to college. Obviously extensions of working periods are in agreement with the student and employer.

They have no requirement that a student needs to be paid during their placement; but we would obviously hope that a student would be offered ‘something’ for their work. Terms should agreed between the student and the employer once the placement is approved by ITB.

 

Considerations for employer:

 

Students are not free labour, they are joining the company to learn, therefore must be supervised by a qualified and experienced horticulturist. The employer benefits by having a part qualified enthusiastic individual as part of their team!

 

There is a small amount of paperwork to be completed by a supervisor and they must make themselves and their student available for visits by the college placement officer, and in the case of second years  students’ their performance is evaluated and marks awarded by a placement supervisor, a task that requires an amount consideration and time.

Contact: michael.hagan@itb.ie

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21 Dec 2010

TCD Botanical Society Event

The talk will be held on Thursday December 16th in the Botany Lecture Theatre, Botany Building, Trinity College Dublin from 7pm – 8pmHere’s a link to the Facebook event page.

“Carey has a point to make and, with the help of maps, old paintings, and much time digging around in libraries both here and in England, he argues his case as tenaciously as a woodland Richard Dawkins. In a nutshell, he doesn’t swallow the old ideological chestnut which insists that Ireland was always completely covered in forests until our nasty English neighbours came in and cut it all down. “I wanted to find out how much woodland was actually there,” he says. “It has been grossly overstated because of the way we’ve been taught history, and because the experts disagree big-time on it”

It promises to be a great talk!!

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21 Dec 2010

A Brief History of the Trinity College Botanic Garden

Trinity College initiated a physic garden on the main College campus in 1687 to provide plant material to support the teaching of medicine. By 1773 this garden had become derelict, and was partly used to dump offal from the Anatomy Department! There was a short-lived attempt to establish a garden in Harolds Cross to the south west of the campus, but by 1806 the College Physic garden was finally abandoned and a Botanic Garden established in an area of land leased in Ballsbridge. Over the next one hundred years this garden developed considerably, and held an important and varied collection of plants. Notable curators of this Garden include J. T. Mackay, credited with producing the first flora of Ireland, and F. W. Burbidge, who was well known for his exploration of the Kinabalu region of what is now Sabah and for his work on collection and hybridisation of Narcissus.

The Garden celebrated the tercentenary of the College in 1892 with the presentation of a massive specimen of the tree fern Todea barbara, a gift from the Royal Botanic Garden Melbourne. A cutting of this plant still thrives in the present Garden. The position of Curator was abandoned after the death of Burbidge, and as a result the Gardens ceased to develop. This was partly redressed with the appointment of an assistant curator in 1950. In 1965 a plan was put before the College Board to relocate the Gardens at Trinity Hall, an accommodation complex in Dartry. This move was approved, giving the Gardens better long-term security as the Trinity Hall site is free hold. The move was completed over 1966 and 1967; two modern hotel complexes now stand on the former Ballsbridge Garden. Many important plant specimens were transferred to Dartry, including a 25 foot tall Ginkgo and various cycads.

Since the move to Dartry, the development of a new botanic garden has proceeded steadily. An important development was the establishment of a position of Administrator in 1981 (now Curator/Administrator). Over the past ten years the gardens has developed an international reputation for plant conservation work, and supports a diversity of research projects ranging from low temperature tolerance to the effects of elevated carbon dioxide on growth of grasses. The Garden celebrated the College quatercentenary with the gift of another tree fern from Australia; this time the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney presented a fine specimen of Cyathea australis.

A more detailed history may be found in The Story of the Botanic Gardens of Trinity College 1687 to 1987 by Peter Wyse Jackson, published privately in 1987. An edited version was published as The Botanic Garden of Trinity College Dublin 1687 to 1987 in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society (1987), vol 95 pp 301-311.

Curators Date Appointed James Townsend Mackay 1802 John Bain 1862 Michael Dowd 1875 Frederick Moore 1877 Frederick W. Burbidge 1879 S.G. Wild 1905 R. Byrne 1949 D. McKennedy 1960 Peter S. Wyse Jackson 1981** Stephen Waldren 1990 ** Post re-established as Garden Administrator in 1981 (Curator/Administrator from 1994)Directors Date Appointed Henry H. Dixon 1905 David A. Webb 1950 William A. Watts 1966* David H.S. Richardson 1980 David W. Jeffrey 1992 John A.N. Parnell 2002 Mike B. Jones 2005 * During some of the period up to 1980, D.W. Jeffrey was appointed Acting-Director

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21 Dec 2010

Agri Aware's Incredible Edibles Wins the Bull!

The 2010 Agricultural Journalism Awards 

The 2010 Agricultural Journalism Awards were presented by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Mr.Brendan Smith TD, at an awards ceremony in AIB Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Organised by the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Ireland, in association with AIB, the awards are presented every two years for work of outstanding merit in six different categories with an Overall Winner being chosen from the six category winners. All the entries are judged by an independent panel of judges.
This year the Overall Winner was Agri Aware for its “Incredible Edibles” campaign that targeted primary school children around the country with the objective of increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables, promoting a balanced diet, and highlighting the role of the farmer in producing quality safe food. 
In 2010, 79% or 2,635 primary schools participated in the programme, and each school received a free growing pack which has everything they need to grow potatoes, strawberries, lettuce, carrots and spinach.


CATEGORY SHORTLISTS AND WINNERS
NATIONAL PRINT
GMO Series, Stephen Cadogan, Farm Examiner 
Money Mentor, Peter Young, Country Living, Irish Farmers Journal 
Family Ties – The Meehans, Maria Moynihan, Country Living, Irish Farmers Journal 
Glanbia Demerger Analysis, Pat O’Keeffe and Liam O’Neill, Irish Farmers Journal


WINNER - GLANBIA DEMERGER ANALYSIS by Pat O’Keeffe and Liam O’Neill


NATIONAL BROADCAST
Tractor Theft, Darragh McCullough, Ear to the Ground (RTE 1) 
Opera Farmer, Helen Carroll, Ear to the Ground (RTE 1) 
Higher Ground, Peter Young & Paul McCarthy, Good Company Productions for RTE 
Flooding, Damien O’Reilly, Countrywide (RTE Radio One)


WINNER - HIGHER GROUND by Peter Young & Paul McCarthy


LOCAL MEDIA

What’s Best for Glanbia Farmer-Suppliers? Sean Keane, Kilkenny People 
Flanders Fields War Harvest, Rodney Magowan, Farm Week 
WHY? Double Misery as John’s Herd is Wiped Out Again! Chris McCullough, Farm Week

 

WINNER - WHY? by Chris McCullough


TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS

Agricultural Land Price Survey, Shirley Busteed, Irish Farmers Journal 
Herd Health – Getting to Grips Will Save Money, Riona Sayers, Today’s Farm - Teagasc 
CASH COWS – Milking More Money from Grass, Jack Kennedy, Irish Farmers Journal (DVD)

 

WINNER - LAND PRICE SURVEY by Shirley Busteed


TARGETED COMMUNICATIONS
Standing Their Ground – Farm Women Pension Rights Campaign, Irish Farmers Association 
Incredible Edibles – Schools Growing Vegetables Campaign, Agri Aware


WINNER - INCREDIBLE EDIBLES by Agri Aware


PHOTOGRAPHIC
Here’s Looking At You Kid! (Glanbia SGM), Fergal O’Gorman, Freelance 
The Long Acre, Belmullet, Pat O’Keeffe, Irish Farmers Journal 
Combine Harvesters, Duleek, Chris McCullough, Farm Week
WINNER - COMBINE HARVESTERS by Chris McCullough, Farm Week


OVERALL AWARD 2010 – “THE BULL” TROPHY - INCREDIBLE EDIBLES, Agri Aware


JUDGING PANEL
The members of the judging panel were Conor Brady, Chairman, (former Editor, Irish Times), Frances Ruane (ESRI), Jimmy Brett (Brett Bros.), John Gilliland (former President, UFU), Prof. Paddy Wall (UCD), and Colm Cronin (PR Consultant).


SPECIAL AWARD

A special award for “Communications with the Rural Community” was presented by AIB to veteran journalist, Ray Ryan, who recently retired from the Irish Examiner, for his unique contribution to communications with the farming and rural sectors in Ireland over the last 48 years. Ray spent 10 years with The Kerryman and 38 years with the Cork/Irish Examiner, the last 13 years as Agricultural Correspondent. 

     

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21 Dec 2010

Horticulture Hot Seat? Martin Ferris TD Sinn Fein Policy.

Agriculture & Rural Regeneration

There is a pressing need to formulate a strategy on farming and the wider issue of rural development. Such a strategy needs to be built up and developed by the communities directly affected by rural under-development. We believe that its core objective should be to break the cumulative cycle that starts with population decline, leading to a reduced demand for services, which leads to fewer employment opportunities and ultimately migration out of rural areas.

Throughout Ireland there are communities fighting their way out of this cycle with little or no aid from central government. These communities have often formed their own new co-operatives, local currency networks, social enterprise and development projects. They have started organic farming projects, agri-tourism initiatives and other diversified agricultural businesses.

These communities need proper funding and resources from central government. They need local government structures that can adapt to their needs.

Sinn Féin believes that the core objectives of any rural development programme should be:

  • Creating a co-ordinated programme that links agriculture, enterprise, environment, culture, health and education and social services strategies into a comprehensive integrated rural development project;
  • Keeping the maximum number of people on the land and preserving the social fabric of rural life;
  • Creating the conditions where rural communities themselves can rebuild their local economies;
  • Ensuring that everyone has a dignified standard of living, access to proper education, housing and health resources.

Sinn Féin also proposes:

Real reform of the CAP

Its original objectives were to maintain the maximum amount of farmers on the land while ensuring a proper standard of living for farmers and fair prices to consumers. This has not been delivered. The CAP funding mechanisms must be changed to help small farmers.

A funding initiative to promote organic farming in Ireland

Organic farming becomes commercially viable on a much smaller acreage than current farming. Such a programme will promote rural repopulation and could be vital element in breaking the current cycle of rural under-development.

Support for other projects

Other projects such as encouraging co-operative agricultural projects and broadleaf forestry projects should be vigorously promoted and supported.

Matching funds for rural enterprise projects

The bulk of funding for economic development currently goes to foreign export-orientated companies. Sinn Féin believes there should be equity in the allocation of funding for enterprise projects. Funding for indigenous enterprise projects have been cut in recent years.

Ending discrimination against local enterprise projects

There is also another level of discrimination in domestic funding mechanisms. Enterprise Ireland, the agency responsible for developing indigenous business, currently favours aiding businesses with export potential, overlooking the community and social enterprise sector. Sinn Féin believes that this form of economic discrimination should end.

An increase in Leader funds

The success of rural development projects under the EU Leader Programme is well recognised. However, such community-orientated funds only account for 7 per cent of the funding coming into the island over the next seven years. Sinn Féin believes that Leader funds are a vital part of any rural regeneration programme and should be the substantial part of EU funding flowing to rural areas.

A national conference

The crisis in rural Ireland is one that must be acted on now. Central government in Ireland should be prevailed upon to hold a national conference that could formulate a strategy to promote rural development in Ireland. Such a conference would have to be organised on a bottom-up participatory basis and not be solely representative of the vested interests that dominate agri-business and rural policies today.

The North-South Ministerial Conference (NSMC) has a role to play in organising this initiative. There is a pressing need for the formulation of policies on branding an all-Ireland national beef and dairy herd as well as making Ireland a centre for organic food within the EU.

These steps should be the beginning of a wider process of developing an all-Ireland strategy on agriculture.

EU funds

The EU must recognise the island as one economic unit when it comes to the allocation of EU funds and the application of policy. A crucial aspect of this would have to be a recognition of the need to recognise, through funding and policy formulation, the special needs of the Border regions to have their agricultural economies fully integrated.

EU programmes such as Leader should be administered immediately on an all-Ireland basis.

Organic food and the GM issue

There is a clear need for an integrated approach to organic farming throughout the island.

The island as a whole should be declared a GM-free zone. Not only would this be a major boost for the quality of food products being sold to Irish consumers but it would also help hugely the marketing of Irish food produce internationally. Again the NSMC has a clear role to play here.

Farmers markets and the co-operative principle

Planning law should include the need for farmers’ markets in new retail developments. Specific funding should be allocated to set up and fund such markets which must be run on the co-operative principle by the local communities in which those markets are sited.

Bringing quality back into Irish farming

There is a need to bring quality back into the Irish farm sector right from the decisions being made by the individual farmers, the food processors and abattoirs right down to the supermarkets and exporters.

We need an island wide code of principles for farm practices and commercial food processing. BSE and other diseases have been created not by chance but by the commercialisation of farming.

Sinn Féin Oireachtas Report on Future of Farming and Fishing in the West PDF documents

I am delighted to be able to present this report to the Committee. It is the fruit of much work in consultation with a wide range of people involved in the farming and fishing sector. As such it represents an accurate picture of both the current state of the rural…Read more

“Awakening the West - Overcoming Social and Economic Inequality” PDF documents

Download a PDF of Sinn Féin's “Awakening the West - Overcoming Social and Economic Inequality”. Read more

HorticultureTrends
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21 Dec 2010

Who's Next In the Horticulture Hot Seat? Martin Ferris TD

Martin Ferris TD

Martin Ferris TD profile pictureMartin Ferris TD Phone: (01) 6184248
Email: martin.ferris@oireachtas.ie

Martin Ferris is Sinn Féín TD for Kerry North and party spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment and Local Government and Communications Energy & Natural Resources. He has been outspoken in highlighting the need for a co-ordinated strategy to re-build rural communities which have become depopulated over the last decade due to a lack of government strategy and the ongoing withdrawl of essential services.

He was elected to Kerry County Council and Tralee UDC in 1999 and to Leinster House for the constituency of Kerry North in 2002 and again in 2007. As the party's EU candidate for Munster in 1999 he received almost 30,000 votes. He is playing a key role in the development of the party across the country.

Martin was part of the Sinn Féin negotiating team and participates in party delegations which meet with the Irish and British governments. He has travelled extensively in support of the peace process.

Martin Ferris is married with six children. He has been an active republican since 1970 and was jailed for his political beliefs in the 1980s.

News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
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21 Dec 2010

Horticulture Hot Seat - Sean Sherlock TD

Below are a number of links to questions asked by Sean Sherlock along with other policy material.

Agri-Food sector
As Spokesperson, we have drafted a Discussion Paper on the future of the Agri-Food sector
BUDGET 2011 - A BREAKDOWN FOR THE FARMING COMMUNITY

No Change in Payment Level for Main Agriculture Schemes

The key schemes in relation to agriculture have seen no reduction in their rates. This means that for 2011, farmers participating in the Disadvantaged Area Scheme, REPS 4, AEOS and the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme will receive the same rate of payments as 2010. While this may be taken as a positive, it should be noted that payment rates under these schemes have seen substantial cuts already and farmers are getting lower rates than they did in 2008.

NUMBER OF SFP STILL AWAITING APPROVAL 2010
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of single farm payment applications for 2010 still awaiting approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter
HARVEST 2020 IMPLEMENTATION
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the recommendations from the food harvest 2010 report that will be prioritised for implementation in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter
AQUACULTURE LICENSES
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of outstanding applications for aquaculture licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter
STRATEGIES FOR EXPANSION OF AGRICULTURE
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the strategies he has in place to encourage the expansion of agriculture between now and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter
FARM ASSIST FIGURES

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a breakdown per county of the number of farming families in receipt of farm assist for the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

IMPORTED BEEF & LAMB FIGURES
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the quantity of beef and lamb imported in 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter
COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the response and submissions he will make to the European Commission following the recently published discussion document on Common Agricultural Policy reform from the Commission entitled ‘The CAP towards 2020: Meeting the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future; his response to the report and when he expects to communicate his proposals to the EU Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter
BEEF CARCASSES CLASSIFICATION

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the measures he has taken to improve farmer confidence in the beef carcase classification system; his views on whether these machines are being operated correctly at all times; the deficiencies that have been found by his inspectors in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter

COST OF VETERINARY MEDICINES
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the measures he is taking to reduce the cost of veterinary medicines which are considerably more expensive than in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter
NITRATES WORKING GROUP

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to establish a nitrates working group with Teagasc to identify solutions for the pigs and poultry sectors once the present arrangement changes in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter

DAIRY HYGIENE SCHEME
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the dairy hygiene scheme will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter
GRANT AID UNDER REPS TO ORGANIC FARMERS
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applications pending for grant aid under the REP scheme to organic farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter

     

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21 Dec 2010

Who's Next In the Horticulture Hot Seat? Sean Sherlock

Following on the 'Horticulture Hot Seat Series' we look at the background of opposition spokespersons on Agri/Hort. It is now that our sector should be contacting and questioning any of these potential candidates in order to influence policy. Highlight the sector problems now. Call him! Also check out the last profile on Andrew Doyle Fine Gael. Next in line is Martin Ferris of Sinn Fein. These are extraordinary times so you never know!

Sean Sherlock TD Labour - Biography.

Constituency:

Cork East

Euro Electoral Region:
Ireland South

Electoral Status:
Sean is currently a sitting TD for Cork East .

Address:
Davis Lane
Mallow
Co. Cork

Tel:
Phone: 022 53523
Fax: 022 57761
087-7402057

Email:
sean.sherlock@oir.ie

Website:
http://seansherlock.ie

Political Career:

  • Elected to the Dail, May 2007
  • First Co-opted to Mallow Town Council and Cork County Council in September 2003.
  • Elected to MTC and CCC June 2004.
  • 2004 Mayor of Mallow Town Council.

Occupation:

  • Full Time Public Representative

Memberships:

  • Blackwater Kayaking Club
  • Mallow Rugby Club
  • County Cork VEC
  • Mountaineering Club of Ireland

Other Interests:

  • Former Assistant to Proinsias De Rossa MEP

Birth Details:

  • 6/12/1972

Education:

  • Patrician Academy Mallow
  • College of Commerce, Cork
  • UCG, BA Economic and Politics
     


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15 Dec 2010

RUSHING THROUGH CLIMATE CHANGE BILL A NON-RUNNER – IFA

RUSHING THROUGH CLIMATE CHANGE BILL A NON-RUNNER – IFA

IFA President John Bryan has strongly criticised attempts by the Green Party to rush through 

ill-timed and badly thought out climate change legislation, which he understands is to be discussed at a cabinet meeting today.

He said, “Hastily-introduced climate change legislation will be very damaging to the role that the agri-food and other sectors can play in Ireland’s economic recovery. Before the Government moves ahead with any legislation on this matter, it must take full account of Ireland’s sustainable model of farming and change the flawed method of calculating greenhouse gas emissions, to accurately reflect carbon sinks from soils and forestry.”

Mr Bryan added, “The Government’s Food Harvest 2020 Report identifies major growth in exports and jobs from the dairy and livestock sectors. If this legislation is introduced with the unrealistic reduction targets currently proposed it will have a very negative impact on the potential of the sector.”

“It is ludicrous that Ireland could introduce emission reduction targets way in excess of those proposed by other countries, while at the same time countries such as Brazil destroy Amazonian rainforests and allow their greenhouse gas emissions spiral out of control.”

The IFA President said, “Any climate change legislation must take account of the carbon sinks associated with permanent pastures and forestry. This is essential because Ireland has the largest carbon absorbing permanent pastures in Europe and the greatest potential to expand the forestry sector.”

The current proposals contained in the Programme for Government go far beyond demands from the EU Commission and will have a very negative impact on our sector. The Green Party could do much more for climate change by resolving the chaos their inaction has created in the renewable energy sector. An immediate package of measures must be introduced which includes a realistic REFIT tariff to support carbon neutral energy production from the micro and bio and micro energy sectors.

Concluding, the IFA President said, “Ireland’s grass-based production system ensures that we produce beef and milk with lower carbon intensity than other exporting nations. Over the past 20 years emissions from milk and beef production have all declined in Ireland. We have a low carbon model of food production and Government policy must not undermine the sector’s ability to drive exports and jobs as part of our economic recovery.”

Keep Yourself updated! Click Here to Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors In Ireland www.HortiTrends.com 

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15 Dec 2010

Botanists Take Aim at War Zone

A group of botanists from Edinburgh has travelled to Afghanistan to train a new generation of plant scientists in how to conserve the region's unique but threatened plant species.

The team from the Centre for Middle Eastern Plants, part of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh
, are at the start of a three-year programme in partnership with Kabul University to teach a group of 20 students how to identify and conserve plants.

Team member Dr Matthew Hall said the strategy of involving the Afghan people in conservation efforts is quite deliberate. 'I could do it myself, but that's not engaging the botanical community in Afghanistan,' he said. 'We're starting from scratch in training, research concepts and plant identification, but that way we leave a lot more of a legacy than a list with a lot of Latin names on it.'

Afghanistan has one of the richest populations of plants in the world, nearly a fifth of which grow nowhere else. However, more than30 years of war has devastated the environment and put the survival of many species under threat. At the same time the fighting has severely curtailed plant collecting expeditions, so records of many species are limited to single sightings in the 1970s.

The team hopes to travel into the field with the students in selected areas where the situation is more stable to assess populations of wild tulips and irises including the highly rare Iris porphyrochrysa, recorded only once in the Bamia region of central Afghanistan. The information will be used to draw up a Red List of plants in need of protection. At the same time a parallel programme is helping develop the Kabul Botanic Garden.

'I was bowled over by the amount of enthusiasm and concern in Afghanistan about the normal things – the quality of the air, conservation and the environment,' said Matt. 'In Kabul real life has to happen if Afghanistan is going to have a sustainable future – and biodiversity is part of that.'

Keep Yourself updated! Click Here to Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors In Ireland www.HortiTrends.com 

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News . Horticulture B2B Directory . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 

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Address: Suite 5 . 64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map

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14 Dec 2010

Horticulture Hot Seat CV: Andrew Doyle

Andrew Doyle TD
Agriculture Fisheries & Food

Personal Details

Home Address:
2a, The Lower Mall, Wicklow Town, Wicklow

Leinster House:
Tel: 01 6183611Fax: 01 6184560

Constituency Office Address:
2a, The Lower Mall, Wicklow Town, Wicklow
Tel: 0404-66622, Fax: 0404-66670

Internet:
http://www.andrewdoyle.ie/

E-mail:
andrew.doyle@finegael.ie

Andrew Doyle TD is a Fine Gael General Election candidate for Wicklow.

Andrew was elected to the 30th Dail in May, 2007. He was appointed Spokesperson on Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, July, 2010. 

He was previously Deputy Spokesperson on Agriculture with special responsibility for Food and Horticulture.

After representing East Wicklow on Wicklow County Council since 1999, serving Chairman of the Council in 2005/2006, he was elected to represent Wicklow and East Carlow running on a Team Wicklow campaign with Billy Timmins T.D.

Since he has been elected, Andrew Doyle has been working for Wicklow /East Carlow people on many issues and on problems that effect people all over Ireland. Some of these are:

  • Commuter transport services for Wicklow –N11, trains and buses
  • Special needs children and their education
  • Community based policing and services especially community care 
  • Energy efficiency and microgeneration of electricity
  • Delivery of Best Practice in St.Columcille’s Hospital and a 24 hour A and E service
  • Sheep farming sector development support
  • Development of local food production and processing with traceability for all sectors
  • Campaign for Irish produced food to be labelled clearly
  • Fair trade in grocery retail for the suppliers, buyers and consumers
  • Supports Public Infrastructure Bond for broadband, public infrastructure, education, research and development, public transport
  • New Budgetary procedures for Departments including bidding, and finance following the patient as in new Fair Care Health proposals from Fine Gael
Visit links to recent Fine Gael Policy Documents on
  • Health -Fair Care
  • Third Level Education
  • Local Government Reform
  • New Era –Economic Stimulus Package
  • Public Service Reform
And more.

Andrew Doyle said “These policies clearly demonstrate that Fine Gael is awake to the problems this country faces. We represent the people who have the vision the willingness and the community spirit to drive Ireland back to stability and sustainable prosperity. When this is achieved, we will ensure that greed and self interest are never allowed to destroy the labours of generation”.

    


14 Dec 2010

Who's Next in the Horticulture Hot Seat? Andrew Doyle TD?

In the lead up to the next general election we will be looking at the background to potential candidates for the Agriculture/Horticulture Hot seat.

Here are some recent press statements and responses from Andrew Doyle TD Fine Gael Spokeperson  for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food.


Supermarket €500k demand from Irish food suppliers shows Govt should accept FG Fair Trade Laws – Doyle


Supermarket €500k demand from Irish food suppliers shows Govt should accept FG Fair Trade Laws – Doyle

Further confirmation today that retailers are demanding sums of hello money of up to €500,000 from Irish suppliers is a clear signal that Fine Gael’s Fair Trade Bill should be accepted by Government and implemented without further delay, according to the party’s Spokesperson on Food & Horticulture, Andrew Doyle TD.

“The contention of three suppliers that they are paying six figure sums to have their products stocked on supermarket shelves backs up many anonymous reports that Fine Gael has received from anxious suppliers in recent months about unfair trading practices in the retail sector.

Fine Gael’s Fair Trade Bill, published last August, not only outlaws illegal practices such as hello money but also provides for the disclosure of supermarket profits and a transparent statement of supply clearly showing agreements between suppliers and retailers.

“The Government has dragged its feet on this issue and has failed to date to introduce the code of conduct or establish the ombudsman promised to regulate the sector.

“There are 200,000 jobs dependent on tackling this issue and making sure producers have access to a fair trading environment. Ministers for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Enterprise Trade and Employment need to take it seriously and put party politics aside to accept the Fine Gael proposals.”
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Irish grown food supplies in jeopardy from supermarket price war, FG survey shows – Doyle


Irish grown food supplies in jeopardy from supermarket price war, FG survey shows – Doyle

Fine Gael Food & Horticulture Spokesperson, Andrew Doyle TD, today (Thursday) released the results of a survey (available by clicking here) responded to by 30 Irish food growers showing suppliers are being squeezed to breaking point by supermarkets while consumers are still being ripped off by massive margins on their shopping.

“My survey shows the balance of power has swung decisively towards supermarkets which control 88% of the fresh food market. Growers are squeezed to breaking point. Many are no longer getting the price they need to cover their costs and are suffering from the low prices on offer from supermarkets as well as demands for extra payments to benefit supermarkets’ margins. Consumers rightfully want good value and look for the cheapest price but if the result is putting local growers out of business the end result with be an importers monopoly with consumers paying an unfair burden of the cost.

“My survey revealed that the kind of payments and practices affecting fresh food suppliers include:

• Box rebates, or 2.5% to 5% rebates to buyer after every monthly payment to grower.
• Payments to cover special offers, from 10% to 30%.
• Personal payments and payments in kind to buyers, ‘Christmas money’ to buyers.
• Lump sum payment for two year contract.
• Long credit terms for buyer from four to 11 months.
• Cost of last minute cancellation of contract borne by grower.

“Abusive trading practices have been stopped by the Fair Trade movement in Africa and India – why can’t we do it in Ireland? We have to face the prospect that Irish growers and producers could be wiped out. The Government is failing to regulate the sector. First and foremost, they should adopt the Fine Gael Fair Trade Bill which has now been published for seven months. Two hundred thousand jobs depend on their willingness to put party politics aside and act to create a fair trading environment.”
End
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

“Time to reveal the facts on levels of retail profiteering” says FG Food Spokesperson


“Time to reveal the facts on levels of retail profiteering” says FG Food Spokesperson

Andrew Doyle TD, Fine Gael Spokesman on Food has called on the Government to back a Fine Gael Private Members’ Bill which provides a mechanism to unlock the secret profits earned by the large retail grocery giants in Ireland. Deputy Doyle was speaking after the Farming Conference yesterday in the context of renewed criticism for the low or even negative margins for grocery suppliers and the rip-off prices for consumers.

“There is no doubt that the large supermarkets have demanded huge reductions in prices from suppliers of food products especially fresh food. These reductions have not been fully passed on to the consumer. The example of the 34% drop in farm gate prices for milk last year while the price of a litre of milk in the supermarket only dropped 3% in the same period shows the bulk of the profit being taken by the supermarket at the expense of the supplier and producer and also the consumer.

“As over 77% of the grocery retail sector in Ireland is controlled by three multinational supermarkets, there is an obvious risk of unfair trade practices. There have been many stories of abusive trading practices – told in confidence. However unless supermarket profit levels are publicised, we are not in any position to decide whether people here are being ripped off or not.

“It is a matter of particular interest that many of the retail chains go to inordinate lengths to conceal details of their profit and turnover.

“We recently saw a report of one of the major retailers taking a High Court action against the Central Statistics Office over an attempt to find out greater detail of the retailer’s turnover and operations. It is in the public interest that there should be full and complete details about the turnover of these companies being made public. The UK is considering obligatory disclosure and the EU Commissioner for Agriculture has promised action.

Fine Gael has addressed this matter head on through our Food (Fair Trade and Information) Private Members Bill published in August. Under the Fine Gael proposal, the Competition Authority would be obliged to carry out an annual review of competition in the retail grocery sector and use its statutory powers to seek details of turnover and profitability from any retailer with more than five stores operating in the Irish market.

“In the run up to the busy Christmas season it is important that the Government does not drift on this issue. I call on the Government now to accept the Food (Fair Trade and Information) Bill now and to implement it without further delay to ensure greater price transparency for consumers and suppliers in Ireland.”

    


Regards
Joseph Blair
www.HortiTrends.com
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14 Dec 2010

A Greener Future Event

Transforming Ireland Seminar #27

Date: Thursday, 16 December 2010

Time: 12:30-14:00

Venue: Wood Quay Venue, Dublic City Council Civic Offices, Dublin 2

Topics:

Innovation Fund Ireland - Damien Callaghan, Intel Capital

A Greener Future - Ian Simington, NTR plc

The Seminar will be Chaired by Peter Clinch, Special Advisor to An Taoiseach

 Abstract:

A Greener Future

Ian Simington, Chief Executive of NTR plc’s Solar Division, will present an overview of what NTR plc is doing to ensure a Greener Future. As part of the presentation, Ian will talk about the financing of greentech projects and provide an overview of the work of the NTR Foundation, the philanthropic organisation established by NTR plc to address the challenges posed by climate change, resource sustainability and security of energy supply through the provision of targeted financial and expert support to projects, research and non-governmental organisations.

 

To register for this seminar, please click here

 

This is the last seminar in the current series


Regards
Joseph Blair
www.HortiTrends.com
HorticultureTrends
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Address: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
    
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Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     
14 Dec 2010

John Stanley asks "Is It Time to Get Back to Nature?"

John Stanley

As a consumer a walk down many High Streets of the world has become a bit of a drudge. Your walk can take you past retailers who are doing the same thing in the same way as they have done for a number of years. The result of this is that many consumers are now talking about buying online, it is more convenient and less hassle and then gives them time to enjoy different experiences.

Consumers are asking for an “added value experience “ rather than be offered more “stuff’ At the same time they are losing touch with nature since urban dwellers now make up 50% of the global population and that growth increase by 80 million a year.

An urban consumer ,who is out of touch with the nature and is looking for value experiences provides retailers with new marketing opportunities.

Retailers in Belgium are known for being a bit for edgy in their merchandising and display techniques They are bolder than retailers in other countries and it is a delight to walk down the Kammenstraat in Antwerpen. This is a street that is a bit more quirky in an already quirky retail environment.

Firstly one passes  “Fish and Chips” a clothes fashion store aimed at Generation Y, this is the only store I know that decorates its front window with graffiti and then sells tins of spray paint next to the counter as an impulse purchase when buying clothing. Over the road from this store is “All Saints” the UK clothing store that has some of the best theatre merchandising I am aware of in the clothing industry.

Further down the street you come to the newly opened Eilean Nature Shop .This store originated as concept developed by naturalist s and artists Robert and Angela Parkin form the UK.  They found it difficult to develop the idea of a flagship store in the UK and hence went into partnership with Johan Van Wambeke and his family in Belgium to open their first store in Belgium.

This is no ordinary store, it is a store focused on bringing nature to the urban consumer.

The retailer has joined forces with Natuurpunt, the Belgium conservation group who have over 100,000 members in the Flanders area of the country.

The 450 square metres store has a number of clear objectives

1 To introduce urban consumers to the nature issues that affect them and the local community, for example the organisation is trying to reintroduce the otter back into the Belgium countryside .

2 To provide the consumer with added value products that are Fair trade and from a know “natural “ source. This allows the store to become a story teller and not just another product retailer.

3 To provide an educational platform for the consumer to become more aware of their natural environment.

The store design provides a natural setting in the city. The store layout is set in a forest with a dry watercourse and islands display area. The categories on display include toys for children, grow it yourself, outdoor clothing, artwork from famous local artists on nature themes and natural cosmetics.

To take a virtual tour of the store log onto my member site www.johnstanley.com.au .  I have featured it in our December Retail World TV report on retail trends.

The consumer is looking for a new experience and the aim of the Nature Store is to provide a space where they can linger longer. Does it work? When customers walk in and you cans see them take a breath and slow down form the trudge of walking down the High Street.

Expect to see nature shops become more common on the High Street of the future.

    

Regards
Joseph Blair
www.HortiTrends.com
HorticultureTrends
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Address: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
    
Mobile: 353 (0)87.9212044  

Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     
8 Dec 2010

Replantable Christmas trees are festive success story.

Rebecca Smithers.
http://m.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/dec/08/replantable-christmas-trees-festive-success-story?cat=money&type=article

Potted and replantable Christmas trees have proved to be a 'surprise hit' say retailers

Potted and replantable Christmas trees have surprised retailers with their popularity with consumers this year.

Shoppers are showing their green credentials this year by creating a record demand for ecologically sound, replantable Christmas trees. The trees, which have roots and can be grown in the garden or in tubs ready for following Christmases, present a viable alternative to the annual hassle of getting rid of a Christmas tree.

Tesco says demand for the "green" trees – available in its stores in three sizes – have been the "surprise hit" this year. Its most popular so far is a miniature version that is about 50cm high, comes fitted with lights and costs £10. The other varieties are 2-3ft and 3ft plus high.

Tesco horticulture buyer Shama Mehan said: : "The miniature tree with lights has become a surprise hit with shoppers and we've already sold tens of thousands of them. We initially trialled them last year and they were snapped up very quickly but this year their popularity has exceeded all our expectations and we have had to order more – and we're still only in the first week of December."

The miniature trees are a variety called Picea, which originally come from Scandinavia but were grown in Holland. Its 3ft high trees are a variety called Nordman Fir while the 2-3ft ones are a variety called Blue Spruce. Both come in one-foot-high pots.

Tesco said the huge demand echoes a major trend in the last year for plants with sales now growing twice the rate as for flowers. Every Christmas over six million real Christmas trees are sold in the UK, but many of which are grown in European countries: resulting in environmental costs created by the transport required to import them to the UK.

B&Q is also reporting strong sales of its potted Christmas trees, which range in size from 40cm to 140cm. This year it has also introduced the smaller Grow Your Own tree for £6.98, saying it marked the start of a new trend for families to buy more than one type of tree.

Annette Hill, assistant buyer in horticulture at B&Q said: "There appears to be a growing trend for households displaying more than one tree, giving parents and kids a chance to stamp their mark. We're also seeing more people than ever buying Grow Your Own trees, especially families with young children, who want to start a tradition so the kids can see their tree grow over the years. When Christmas is over they can put the tree outside in the garden and bring them back inside the following year."

To ensure the survival of a pot-grown tree indoors, you need to give it plenty of water about twice a week and make sure it is not placed too near a fire or radiator. Decorate with only small lights to reduce the heat exposure.

You'll be saving yourself money over the years as they grow. But just be aware that they can grow as much as two feet in a year and once they get much bigger than 5ft they can become difficult to handle. The British Christmas Tree Growers' Association has some handy tips.

Also remember to reintroduce it to the cold outside gradually after Christmas so it does not get a nasty shock. If you are keeping it in a pot outside, rather than in the soil, repot it in a bigger tub each spring so its roots have space to grow.

Homebase also sells live trees, starting at 1.5ft in height and available in Norway Spruce, Fraser Fir, and Nordman Fir. Prices range from £7.99 for the 1.5ft Norway Spruce to £69.99 for a 5.5ft Norway Spruce.

Roger Hay, secretary of the British Christmas Tree Growers' Association, said: "This Christmas, with the decline in availability of trees from the continent, we're hoping more people than ever will support our British growers with a homegrown tree. British Christmas trees are one of the most environmentally friendly crops there are. Opting for a real, UK-grown tree will ensure you're making the most sustainable choice possible and trees bought at Homebase have a tiny carbon footprint, sourced as they are from British growers."

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8 Dec 2010

Banks Rule the Roost at Monrovia.


Last Thursday, Monrovia customers found an e-mail in their inboxes containing two letters. The first letter, signed by Monrovia leadership, read (in part): 

“Our banks have expressed their concern by giving us until January 31 to show significant improvement [$20 million] to our 2011 bookings or face a distressed sale of our inventories";

“Accordingly, we are offering you the opportunity to add to your spring bookings now and until January 31 [reductions of 35%-50% on products]”; and

“Candidly, we are being advised by our lenders and their advisors to sell to the big box channel if we are unable to significantly increase our booked orders. We will not sell our brand into the big box channel but the quality of our plants, even in a black pot speaks for itself. We are aware that this affects your competitive advantage.”

Monrovia has long been an independent-only grower of premium nursery products. Which is why a possible move into the big boxes prompted a group of 75 garden retailers to pen a letter of support (also included in the Monrovia e-mail): 

“We, as Independent Nurseries, cannot afford this to happen,” the letter of support reads. “We agree that we shall increase our spring bookings by a significant amount to help Monrovia Growers reach their goal.”

Monrovia’s response
I was traveling when all this went down, but Green Profit Editor-at-Large Ellen Wells was hard at work in her Boston office, so she called Monrovia for the story. Here’s her report:

I spoke with Monrovia CEO Miles Roseland Friday to learn more. Sales, Miles says, had been “fine” for a six- to eight-year period—then for the last two years they’ve “slowed”—recession-related, he says. 

As for two of their three banks (one wants out of the industry), “They are encouraging us to sell our plants into all channels and to find ways to increase our profitability as a company.” The one channel Monrovia currently isn’t in is the mass market. 

Asked if there would be a reluctance to go in that direction, Miles assured customers that Monrovia “wouldn’t go into that channel with our brand, and we haven’t been in business there so we don’t know exactly how to do it, but we’re going to look into it.”

“Humbling and quite remarkable” are how Miles describes the IGC letter of support. “When our garden centers became aware of our need to go into all channels, they said ‘Let us help you sell more plants. If you can pass savings on to us, we can try to pass savings on to our customers. Maybe we can order a little more.’” 

Premium nursery material in the mass-market channel—even in an anonymous black nursery pot—can and will be a threat to sales at IGCs. Does Monrovia feel they’d lose a lot of support from customers if they were to go into the big boxes, even if it wasn’t in a branded form? “We’re hopeful that our customers will understand the need for us to survive, and appreciate that we’re offering a differentiated product with a brand to them,” says Miles. 

What Monrovia wants IGCs to know is this:

* They’re in full production and have lots of plants to sell;
* They’re prepared to offer good pricing so they can pass savings along to consumers;
* They’re not asking you to take away from other growers; and
* They’ll continue to offer high-value, high-quality plants.

“Response has been very favorable,” says Miles. “If they [IGCs] are willing to increase their business, that should give us the basis to find bank support.”

The conference call
On Tuesday, Monrovia held four conference calls with customers and other interested parties (like me), sharing details of the issue and opening the phone lines to questions.

They explained that one of their three banks doesn’t want to be in business with an industry that has inventory on the books for more than 12 months. That bank has apparently been burned by other nurseries, and so wanted out of this field. “We’re faced with the need to replace one of our three banks, and that is what has precipitated this outreach,” said Miles. 

He was quick to add, “We’re not asking you to cancel from other growers. We recognize that other growers are in the same situation as we are, the same marketplace. We hope you’ll see the opportunity to add to your bookings with us, but we’re not asking you to cancel with someone else just to give us an advantage.”

Monrovia has more than 3,000 independent garden center customers. Quick math says each customer would have to increase its business by $6,700. Is that impossible? 

“We certainly don’t think so," said Bob Smiland, chief sales & marketing officer. "You can do the math yourself, but 3,000-plus locations, you don’t have to buy too much more per location to get to that number. So this is not something just for the larger multi-store operations or super-destination garden centers."

Will they enter the mass market?
That’s what one caller asked. Replied Miles, “The simple answer is, we really don’t know at this point. We haven’t done business in the box channel for 15 years, and really are not familiar with it, but it wouldn’t be prudent for us, facing our demise, so to speak, to not consider all the channels, and that’s what we are doing. So at this point we really can’t give you a definite answer one way or the other.”

But he added, “Our approach into the box channel is not with the brand. The brand is something that’s been built by the independent garden centers, and we want to keep that exclusive to your channel.”

That was the only probing question. Otherwise, the few comments were pledges of support. Said one caller, “Do what you can for Monrovia in this tough time. They’ve been here for us for many, many years.”

Added a representative from a multi-store independent, “I just can’t envision this industry without Monrovia. When things do turn around, we’re going to depend a lot on the guaranteed availability from Monrovia and being able to introduce their new varieties to our customers.” With that, he pledged to increase purchases this year by 25%.

Keep Yourself updated! Click Here to Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors In Ireland www.HortiTrends.com 

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7 Dec 2010

Scottsdale Miracle-Gro to Sell Professional Business

Scottsdale Miracle-Gro to Sell its Global Professional Business to ICL in All-Cash Transaction Valued at $270 Million

Sale expected to close in second quarter of FY 2011

MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), the world's leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products, announced today that it has received a binding offer from ICL (TASE: ICL) to acquire the shares and substantially all the assets of ScottsMiracle-Gro's Global Professional business for $270 million (US), subject to certain adjustments at closing, in an all-cash transaction.

"Today's announcement is another step in our strategy to become a more focused consumer business," said Jim Hagedorn, chairman and chief executive officer, ScottsMiracle-Gro. "Over the past two years, we have evolved our business portfolio to better leverage growth opportunities within our Global Consumer segment, allowing us to better drive shareholder value.

"While we are proud of the efforts that our Global Professional team has put forward over the years, we believe their ability to continue driving growth will be enhanced by being part of ICL, which has articulated a clear vision to invest in this business and support its growth."

The Global Professional business markets professional products to commercial nurseries and greenhouses for ornamental horticulture; sports fields, golf courses and public parks for professional turf applications; and specialty agriculture in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. The U.S. professional seed business is not included in this offer.

The proposed sale is expected to close in the Company's second quarter of fiscal 2011, subject to regulatory review and the satisfaction of certain conditions, including works council and employee consultation. The Company intends to apply net proceeds of the sale toward capital investments and debt retirement.

In fiscal 2010, which ended September 30, 2010, the Global Professional business had sales of $242 million, which accounted for 8 percent of the Company's total sales. The purchase price is based on pro forma fiscal 2010 EBITDA of $31.4 million, a non-GAAP measure that includes certain adjustments to better reflect the economic earnings of the business on a stand-alone basis.

For fiscal 2011, ScottsMiracle-Gro anticipates the proposed transaction will be dilutive to its earnings per share in the range of 10 to 15 cents. The estimated 2011 diluted earnings per share impact excludes an anticipated net after-tax gain on the sale and direct costs associated with the transaction. ScottsMiracle-Gro estimates income taxes to be paid on the transaction will be in the range of $30 million to $40 million.

"We are pleased to find a buyer that values Global Professional's market leadership position, talented people, respected brands and positive customer relationships," Mr. Hagedorn, added. "ICL has extensive experience in global markets, is a leader in the global fertilizer industry and is committed to achieving business success. These attributes give us confidence that Global Professional will be a good fit with ICL."

Mr. Akiva Mozes, ICL's president and CEO, commented, "We are very excited about the potential of combining our two companies' specialty fertilizers and horticultural/turf inputs businesses, thereby forming a strong basis for the strategic expansion that we have planned for this area. By combining Global Professional's branded products, experienced global sales and marketing organization and significant R&D capabilities with our own leading products and superior access to raw materials, we believe that we will be able to create a specialty fertilizers and horticultural/turf inputs powerhouse positioned for accelerated growth in a growing marketplace."

Both companies said they will have teams in place to ensure a smooth transition for associates, customers and suppliers. "We believe this proposed transaction will be positive for all of Global Professional's stakeholders, and we are dedicated to supporting the seamless transfer of the business to ICL," Mr. Hagedorn added.

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. acted as ScottsMiracle-Gro's exclusive financial advisor on this transaction.

About ScottsMiracle-Gro

With $3.14 billion in worldwide sales and approximately 8,000 associates, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Scotts Company LLC, is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In Europe, the Company's brands include Weedol®, Pathclear®, Evergreen®, Levington®, Miracle-Gro®, KB®, Fertiligene® and Substral®. The Global Professional business has approximately 350 associates and brands such as Osmocote®, Peters®, Sierraform GT®, Sierrablen Plus®, Agroblen® and Agriform®. For additional information, visit us at www.scotts.com.


Keep Yourself updated! Click Here to Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors In Ireland www.HortiTrends.com 

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News . Horticulture B2B Directory . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 

Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture, Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors.

Address: Suite 5 . 64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map

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7 Dec 2010

The French Connection by John Stanley

Garden retailing in France is controlled by a relatively small number of retailers who between them own the major share of the garden market. The key players are Botanic, Jardiland and Truffaut.

What makes these retailers special and what can retailers in other countries learn from them and the French retailer?

Many of you may think it is the way they put the product together, the French are famous for their flair as fashion leaders, but this was not the main lesson I took away for a week looking at the industry.

My journey started with the annual nursery awards dinner organized by Groupe J, the main magazine company for the gardening and pet sector. The dinner is a combination of wonderful entertainment, fine food and the awards ceremony. The awards are dominated by presentations to the Buyers.

Awards are presented to the best buyers in each category and the buyer is held in more esteem than the store owner, or that is how it seems to come across to a visitor looking at the industry.

The argument is that the key to success is based on a business having a good buyer, as stock turn and getting the right product mix is critically important.

Having seen the French industry and the industry in other countries I can see why the French put so much emphasis on the buyer. Heroic buyers can make a big difference. I talked to Brond Wagenaar,

a French garden centre consultant, concerning the awards and how they are judged. He informed me that they are judged based on the following criteria.

Technical Knowledge

Partnership approach with the supplier

Mid and long term vision of the business and the industry

Respect and commitment.

With the shift in consumer thinking, this type of award needs to be promoted in other countries as well.

HOW ARE THE FRENCH PERFORMING?

The average French garden centre generates between 1000 and 1500 Euro per square metre with an average sale per customer of around 30 Euro, except this does rise to 40 euro in the more wealthy Paris region.

Pets are part of the garden centre scene and a typical centre will donate between 25% and 30% of retail space to the pet category. The return on pets is higher than the return on gardening.

The segmentation of the market is interesting. At the higher end is Botanic, the middle market is supplied by Jardiland and Truffaut and the lower end of the market by Garden Price

Botanic

First stop was Botanic  

who promote themselves as the first alternative brand  
in garden centres. The claim comes from them leading the way in natural, eco-friendly garden products. Consumers seem to like the message and have voted the company the best garden retailers in 2007 and 2008

Their Suresnes store, overlooking the Seine just outside Paris, is the flagship store in the chain and offers some interesting new trends in garden retailing. As a consultant I often advise retailers that a lifestyle retail store has to be on one level as it is difficult to get garden customers to travel from one floor to another. This store breaks those rules and is located on three levels and it works.

The lower level is the garden department, the second level is seasonal, including a balcony of outdoor plants and the top level is the pet department. Keeping pets and balcony gardens are the key interests of the local consumers and this business does a great job in serving both.

The middle market is the Jardiland and Truffaut market. Jardiland is a 800 million euro business started 30 years ago and now has 217 stores  aiming  to be the IKEA of the garden industry in France, Spain and Italy. Truffaut, a 440 million euro business is part of the De Haize supermarket family and has 55 stores spread across France, but has a critical 50% market share of the Paris market.

The challenge for these businesses is that 25% of their business comes in 25 days.

In fact Jardiland quoted the “three” concept in their business.

The business relies on THREE months...15 March until 15 June

                                        THREE days...Friday, Saturday and Sunday

                                         THREE hours...2.00pm until 5.00pm

Scarfs and Tea Towels

A new business to me was Garden Price, operated by three ex Truffaut team members .Their aim is to own the bottom of the market. They are the place you come when you want to buy on price. They locate themselves in retail parks near a Truffaut as they realize that their customers will have to finish their shopping at a fully fledged garden centre. You go to Garden Place for a limited range based on price. The stores are a warehouse with pallets and racking as shop fixtures.

During my visit Christmas lead up was in full swing, I asked what happened in January as stock turn was clearly critical to the business.  I was told that while other garden centres moved into garden furniture which does not pick up in sales until March , they move in to tea towels and scarfs to keep female customers coming in and buying product.

The French market has moved forward in the last five years.  It is clear that some retailers have a clear vision of where they want to be in the future and are focused on getting there. They realize that the buyer is a critical player in that process and they are recognised as the retail heroes.

John Stanley is a retail business coach, speaker and author.  John films retail stores with new ideas and films great display ideas or retail trends as he travels around the world for his internet TV program.   Members of his Club can view the TV program for free and receive team training for free.  John has authored several successful marketing and retail books including the best seller “Just About Everything a Retail Manager Needs to Know”. 
John Stanley helps retailers:

·          Increase sales per square metre

·          Train staff to increase the average sale per customer

·          Better manage stock, merchandising and display to maximise potential

·          Marketing more effectively to convert more lookers into buyers

  For more information on John Stanley or how to become a Member of his Club, visit www.johnstanley.com.au or email info@johnstanley.com.au

Keep Yourself updated! Click Here to Subscribe to our News Letter and Alerts for the Horticulture & Fresh Produce Sectors In Ireland www.HortiTrends.com 

Click Here! to Promote Your Business and Grow Your Trade on Irelands Leading Business2Businesss Horticulture Directory of Supplies & Services www.HortiTrends.com

News . Horticulture B2B Directory . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 

Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture, Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors.

Address: Suite 5 . 64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map

Mobile: 353 (0)87 9212044  

Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     

7 Dec 2010

Breaking News - 75million Cuts at Agriculture, Fisheries & Food - Budget 2010

To Come from the Following Areas.
Reduced expenditure on REPS.
Reductions in the Disease Eradication area due to reduced instances of disease in 2010.
Reduced expenditure on ERS due to scheme closure.
Reduction in Intervention costs.
Administrative efficiencies.

(a) 2011 Current savings of €75 million in the Agriculture area are offset by additional timing-related scheme payments of €30 million.

Regards
Joseph Blair
www.HortiTrends.com
HorticultureTrends
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

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Mobile: 353 (0)87.9212044  

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7 Dec 2010

EnterpriseSTART Programme

If you are currently considering entrepreneurship as a career option, an EnterpriseSTART workshop will help you to understand and evaluate the entrepreneurship process and what it involves. 

Each workshop is targeted at individuals with a business idea that has the potential to be scaled up significantly within three years and be export driven. 

Participants will have the opportunity for one-to-one consultation with Enterprise Ireland staff regarding individual needs. The workshops are practical, interactive and thought provoking. Participants will be provided with comprehensive information to understand the business development process including the key success factors and potential pitfalls as well as an outline of financial supports available from Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Boards

The next EnterpriseSTART workshops in your region are listed below:

 EnterpriseSTART workshops 2010

 

Region

Date & Venue

Contact

Application Form | Flyer

Dublin & Mid-East1-2 February, 2011
Enterprise Ireland, Dublin
Envelop iconEva Murdoch

 

 

7 Dec 2010

Breaking News - Budget Recognises Key Role of Agri-Food Sector in Economic Recovery – Minister Smith

HortiTrends Breaking News!  

Full Story coming Soon! Sign up to News Alerts & Horticulture Business Directory Below.

Regards
Joseph Blair
www.HortiTrends.com
HorticultureTrends
News . Advertising . Sales . Marketing . Business Development & Support. 
Expertise, Practical Know-how, Passion for the Horticulture Fresh Produce & Lifestyle Sectors...

Address: Suite 5,  64 Dame Street . Dublin 2 . Ireland . Location: Map & Directions
    
Mobile: 353 (0)87.9212044  

Email: jblair@hortitrends.com     
4 Dec 2010

Christmas Tree New York Style.

> > >

Photo

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3 Dec 2010

How Do I Source Horticulture News in Ireland?

The answer is....with great difficulty. This is an email that I sent to Stiofan Nutty and Minister Cuffe. It is not a criticism of them personally but is more of an appeal to help me. Read on.......

Thanks also for the update for the 
Horticulture Action Group. I will let people know the postponement by posting it on www.HortiTrends.com It is going to be important for the group to communicate on a regular basis what they are trying to achieve so that all stakeholders in horticulture can get behind them. Is the action group a closed shop or can others get involved? I would be interested and willing to give time. Have the likes of Pat Fitzgerald been asked to participate as if its exports that will help save this country then he is a very valuable asset to have. What about the new and young guy's from Freestyle Nurseries. Peter Donegan who has a lot to say and has new ideas about our sector. Some new blood and thinking from all interested sectors will be of great benefit to this new action group.

On a separate note.

I am constantly begging for news and information. I think I know and you think you know that the staff in the Horticulture department of Bord Bia are busy but there is a negative perception out there towards many civil servants at the moment that they are doing nothing. I am providing an opportunity to communicate with the people that they serve. At the moment there are not so many news outlets interested so why not use us? It costs nothing. As it was recently pointed out in a blog by Peter Donegan that the last horticulture newsletter sent out was in early 2009 http://blog.doneganlandscaping.com/2010/11/17/bord-bia-promote/. Why just one? It might also take pressure of everyone as now their achievements are being recognised and reported. If its any consolation Bord Bia may be bad but Teagasc are worse in communicating outputs and deliverables. I have even considered the freedom of information act to see how I can get news of these guys. On the other hand I have Dutch and UK organisations showering me with news and information they want us to publish. Do the Dutch know something we don't? 

Maybe a Wikileaks for Horticulture might be a good thing! Anyway thats my rant, my frustration as a new business start-up. I won't have to march this week as I have got that of my chest but I am going to stick at this until the very end because the system and the people have to change at every level including me and how I communicate with users of the website. No more holding back on information or being afraid to be skeptical or critical of the status quo. I have been at a conference recently where members of the audience are rolling the eyes in their head as the usual speel is given out by those charged with the development of our sector. You might share this email with others as if it inspires them to justify themselves then that is a good thing just as long as they also provide me with some useful news or information about what they have done for horticulture in Ireland this week or this month and then I will publish it. The civil servants need to realise that one way to serve the people who still manage to make a living out of horticulture is by communicating with them. 

Up Horticulture and Up Ireland!

    



Regards
Joseph Blair
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3 Dec 2010

HortiTrends Breaking News! Inaugural Meeting of Horticulture Action Group Postponed Due to Bad Weather.

Rescheduled for December 15th. Full Report Coming Soon! Sign up to News Alerts & Directory Below.

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1 Dec 2010

Glee 2011 Bookings Strong

86% of exhibitors in the Landscaping section in Hall 4 of Glee have booked again for 2011. So have over 70% of the garden care sector in Hall 5. Overall, with 320 companies already promising to return, the number of stands for 2011 is already at a level not reached until April this year.

This September there was empty space at the back of the Halls, despite being a bigger show than the low of 2009. To use space more efficiently in 2011, Pet Index will move into Hall 5 and run on the same Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday as the main show. This will also make it easier for garden centre buyers to incorporate pets into their schedule of visits.

Outdoor Living will occupy Hall 3a and part of Hall 4. There will be no Hall 3. New show director Nick Davison is confident that despite fewer Halls the 2011 show will be considerably bigger given the number of bookings already received.

Glee Nursery is also set for a new image. The organisers are planning an area that will be benched like the plant sales area in a garden centre. Nurseries will be able to book by bench, eliminating the cost of building a stand. All exhibitors will need to do is bring the plants.

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Joseph Blair
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1 Dec 2010

Is Horticulture Getting Its Share of Online Sales?

Irish to spend €172 each online on gifts this Christmas - Visa Europe

Irish to spend €172 each online on gifts this Christmas - Visa Europe


The research finds that more than 94pc plan to buy some Christmas gifts online this year with men likely to spend more (€192) online than women (€162).Irish consumers are set to spend a total of €356m online on gifts in the run up to Christmas with an average spend of €172 per shopper, according to research from Visa Europe.

According to Visa Europe, the majority of Irish shoppers (85pc) believe they can save an average of 18pc on Christmas gifts by purchasing them over the internet instead of on the High Street. Three quarters (74pc) of people believe that shopping online is a safe and secure way of shopping and two thirds (66pc) turn to the internet because of the protection that paying with cards gives them compared to cash.

Today is set to be the busiest ever day for online shopping across Europe, according to analysis by Visa Europe. For the previous two years, the busiest online shopping day has always been the Monday closest to the start of December and this year it falls on 29 November.  In 2009, the peak in online spending occurred on Monday 30 November and in 2008 it was Monday 1 December, according to Visa’s analysis.

Visa Europe is predicting it will handle over 6.6m transactions across Europe during Mega Monday alone or 4,500 every minute. Transactions are forecast to peak in the lunch hour between1pm and 2pm and a second peak is expected around 7pm.

“Shopping online is now a natural part of the gift-buying process for consumers and a key part of Christmas sales strategy for retailers,” said Dr Steve Perry, commercial director, Visa Europe. “The combination of salaries being paid and people taking delivery times into consideration should combine to deliver a record day for internet shopping.”

On the High Street, the last Friday or Saturday before Christmas is usually the busiest shopping day but with Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Visa Europe predicts the busiest day will be Thursday 23 December.

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Joseph Blair
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1 Dec 2010

Seventh Annual Sustainable Energy Awards

All sectors of economy recognised at Seventh Annual Sustainable Energy Awards 

Companies across all sectors of the economy were recognised for their efforts in energy management at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) seventh annualSustainable Energy Awards in Dublin  (25th November 2010). Award winners included Irish-owned retailer Musgraves, multinationals Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Cork and IFSC-based international bank Citi, family run business Matthews Coach Hire, research institute Tyndalland energy services company, Crowley Carbon Ltd

Sponsored by ESB, the Sustainable Energy Awards highlight excellence in business energy management and this year included entries from over 100 organisations. Top prize on the night, ‘Energy Manager of the Year’, went to Brian Scannell of the Musgrave Group, which launched a five-year sustainability strategy across its business in 2007 that has since delivered over 3GWh in energy savings, equivalent to 5% year on year savings. 

Winners included: 
Crowley Carbon Ltd, which received the new ‘Sustainable Energy Innovation Award’ for the adoption of an iPhone app Danú, a smart analytical tool that helps businesses to carry out a comprehensive energy audit. The tool was demonstrated in Corrib Oil and led to energy savings of 30% equivalent to €120,000. 

Tyndall National Institute, winner of the ‘Renewable Energy Systems Award’ for its new research building which is heated entirely by heat generated from its data servers, saving 12% on energy costs. 

Citi, winner of the ‘Energy Awareness Award’ for a sustained energy awareness programme which resulted in reducing utility costs by almost €350,000 over the last year alone. 
Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, which was awarded the ‘Energy Management Award, Small to Medium User’ for achieving energy savings of almost 30% in the last three years, equivalent to €250,000, by following no-and low- cost energy saving initiatives involving all staff. 
Matthews Coach Hire, which won the ‘Energy Efficiency Award, Small to Medium User’, for implementing a fuel efficiency project that has generated a 6% saving in fuel usage throughout its fleet of private coaches, commuter and tour party buses. 

In total, the project entries this year demonstrated energy savings of over €17 million, with an additional €40 million in projected cost savings identified over the next three years. 2010 is the first year in which an award in the area of Sustainable Energy Innovation was offered, with significant interest generated from a number of companies in that category. 

Congratulating the 2010 award winners Mr Eamon Ryan, T.D., Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, said: “The message that genuine cost savings are achievable from increased energy efficiency is starting to resonate with companies of all sizes. We are seeing the results with the winners of this year’s Energy Awards driving genuine savings of an average of 15-20% across their businesses. These are very tangible and real savings, and must serve as an inspiration for other companies.Companies have very clearly taken up the challenge to reduce their energy costs, and it is very encouraging to see such a wide range of entries this year.“ 

Commenting on the Awards announcement, Professor Owen Lewis, CEO, SEAI said: “What is most encouraging from this year’s Awards is the evidence that employees and individuals in business are now really embracing the efficiency agenda and driving change throughout Irish industry. A culture change is taking place across Irish businesses. We too often think that our individual efforts are futile in the bigger picture, but all we have to do is look at the collective efforts of entrants to this year’s Awards who have achieved energy savings of over €17 million. Individuals have made these savings happen and they should be commended.” 

Brid Horan, Executive Director, ESB Services and Energy Solutions, said: “Awards like tonight, demonstrate the confidence that still exists in this country where we have strong entrepreneurs and a well educated workforce who have the resilience and determination to shape a better future and actively look for continuous improvement.” 

Full list of 2010 Sustainable Energy Award winners: 

Energy Efficiency Award, Small/Medium User: Louth County Council – Garrett Shine Architects 

Energy Management Award, Small/Medium User: Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Cork 

Energy Efficiency Award, Major User: Matthews Coach Hire Ltd. 

Integrated Energy Management Award, Major User: Cordis Cashel (a Johnson & Johnson Company) 

Energy Manager of Year Award, Major User: Brian Scannell, Musgrave Group 

Renewable Energy Systems Award: Tyndall National Institute 

Energy Awareness Award: Citi 

Sustainable Energy Innovation Award: Crowley Carbon Ltd. 

Regards
Joseph Blair
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1 Dec 2010

A New Cherry Orchard for Cherry Orchard

Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Gerry Breen, will plant the first cherry tree in what will become a new cherry orchard, at the community garden, Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 on Monday 29th November at 10.30am.

As 2010 is the international year of biodiversity, Dublin City Council is pleased to be supporting this conservation project. The main aims of the project are to create a functioning cherry orchard in the area that will enrich the existing gardens and be a beautiful amenity for the local schools and community. The second aim is to protect the two native Irish cherries, prunus padus and prunus avium, which are in decline in the wild. The orchard will maintain population stocks and provide food for the birds, butterflies and wildlife. “The cherry tree I’m planting today is very special, given the name and history of the area. The community garden project is already a huge success and I am confident the cherry orchard will grow and thrive with the care and attention the local community will give it” said the Lord Mayor.

  • The launch of this initiative will take place on the site where a new scheme of community allotments are currently being developed to have ready for spring 2011
  • The community allotment scheme is the second phase of a larger community gardening initiative undertaken by Cherry Orchard Regeneration Project with the support of a number of bodies including Dublin City Council, Ballyfermot | Chapelizod Partnership, CDVEC and most importantly; the local residents and community.  The site for the allotments is directly adjacent to the new community garden in Cherry Orchard
  • The new allotment site is a perfect location to host the first official Cherry Orchard to be planted in the area in recent memory as part of a broader environmental initiative in the community of Cherry Orchard
  • The community garden project has been a huge success in its first year; the first vegetables were sown in June and since that time it has gone from strength to strength
  • The success of the initiative to date is entirely due to the overwhelming input, commitment and dedication from the local community.  The majority of the hard labour developing the garden was completed by the local Men’s Club called MAGIC.  The club was set-up by the Regeneration Project in response to the high number of men out of work in the area in summer 2009.  The members of the club have given their time voluntarily to help with the establishment of this initiative along with working with the Regeneration Project on a number of other very worthwhile projects in the area.  The garden was nurtured, managed and maintained all year long by a very enthusiastic and dedicated group of local residents with a strong thirst to learn more about gardening, meet new people, get involved and give something back to the community they live in.  These two groups have worked hand-in-hand and have subsequently formed a community gardening committee to oversee the future development and management of the garden.  They have set a very sturdy foundation upon which to commence the second phase of the gardening initiative which is the development of community allotments
  • The idea for the project came from Bloom and RHS garden designer Fiann Ó Nualláin who has been working with Dublin City Council on several “plant your place name” projects. In the bluebell region of Dublin 12 Fiann and local schoolchildren have begun transforming verges and green spaces into a repository for the endangered native bluebell (hycanthoidies non scripta)

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Joseph Blair
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1 Dec 2010

Composition of Horticulture Action Group

Minister Cuffe Announces Composition of Horticulture Action Group

The Minister of State for Horticulture, Ciarán Cuffe TD, has announced the establishment of a Horticulture Action Group to oversee the implementation of the relevant recommendations relating to Horticulture in the Food Harvest 2020 Report.

Membership of the Group, representing the various sectors of the horticulture industry, comprises:

Mr Kieran Dunne, Nursery Stock producer
Ms Caroline Keeling, Wholesaler and Protected Crop producer
Mr John Hogan, Field Vegetable producer
Ms Lavinia Walsh, Mushroom producer
Mr Maurice Whelton, Potato producer
Mr Mike Neary, An Bord Bia
Mr Jim O'Mahony, Teagasc and
Mr Gabriel Roe, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

The remit of the Group is to focus in specific terms on the implementation of the particular recommendations in the 2020 Report relating to Horticulture and to also consider other general farm and agriculture industry level recommendations. The Group will report back to the High Level Implementation Group, which has been set up under the overall chairmanship of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith TD.

The Minister stated that: "the Horticultural industry has considerable potential to develop but is also facing significant challenges and that he looked forward to the Group progressing the implementation of the 2020 Food Harvest Report".

Minister Cuffe will inaugurate the first meeting of the Group on 2 December 2010.

    



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Joseph Blair
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1 Dec 2010

Belleek Forest Enhancements

Minister of State Connick opens Enhanced Forest Recreational Facilities at Belleek Forest, Co. Mayo

Seán Connick TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for forestry, today opened enhanced forest recreational facilities at Belleek Wood, Ballina, Co Mayo, which were developed under the NeighbourWood Scheme operated by his Department.

He warmly congratulated Coillte for developing the facilities, in partnership with the Belleek Enhancement Committee and Mayo County Council, at the Forest including a wheelchair friendly route which stretches along the main walking path of this wonderful local amenity at Belleek Forest.

Minister of State Connick commented "This project was approved for funding under the NeighbourWood Scheme administered by my Department.  This scheme is aimed at promoting the development, through local partnerships, of attractive 'close-to-home' woodlands for public use and enjoyment.  The Belleek Enhancement Committee is a perfect example of the concept of 'development through local partnerships' as I understand that it works to ensure that Belleek Woods meets the recreation needs of the wider local community".  Referring to the development of the wheelchair accessible walk, he added, "In this, the 50th year of the Irish Wheelchair Association, today's opening of a completely wheelchair accessible forest walk here in Belleek Wood is a fitting way to celebrate it."

The Minister of State also noted the measures taken in Belleek Wood to halt the decline in the native red squirrel population, such as the preservation of red squirrel habitats and the diversity of trees in Belleek thus providing a nature reserve for the red squirrel.

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Joseph Blair
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1 Dec 2010

An tSli Glas Could Create 10,000 Jobs

An tSli Glas could create 10,000 jobs 
SourceBusiness World
---------------------------------------------------
Over 10,000 jobs could be created over the next five years from the An tSli Glas (The Green Way) project - the country's first green economic zone, according to a spokesman for the organisation. 

An tSli Glas -The Green Way is a green economic corridor initiated by a powerful alliance of businesses, academic institutions and local authorities including Ballymun Regeneration, Dublin Airport Authority, Dublin City University, Dublin Institute of Technology, Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council and North Dublin Chamber. The goal is to position Ireland as a centre of Cleantech innovation and enterprise which will link business to investors and develop trade partnerships with other major international green corridors. 

"Ireland is extremely well placed to become a global innovation hub. Against the backdrop of the serious economic and financial crisis, and the implementation of austerity measures in many countries, I am more convinced than ever that innovation is the key to a stable European economy, to growth and job creation," said European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Maire Geoghegan-Quinn. 

She spoke at a reception hosted by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of Dublin City University, one of the academic institutions involved in the tSli-Ghlas partnership which also includes Ballymun Regeneration, Dublin Airport Authority, Dublin Institute of Technology, Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council and North Dublin Chamber. 

The Commissioner continued: "Ireland has the second largest goods trade surplus in the entire EU. And Irish exports are growing - in the third quarter of this year, overall exports showed an annual rise of around 10 per cent. Irish people are among the most resourceful, dynamic and creative in the world". 

"I am confident "the Commissioner continued, "that Ireland will recover its fighting spirit and seek out and capitalise on opportunities to build a new economy. An economy built on innovation." 

Tony Boyle, Chairman of the Steering Committee for the An tSli Ghlas -The Green Way said: "The overall potential of the Green Way, which builds on our existing assets and infrastructure, is that it can assist in the transformation of our economy. It will, and has already started to, create jobs in the Cleantech sector, which is the largest job and wealth creation opportunity of the 21st century". 

Recruitment is underway for a CEO and Operations Director. 

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Joseph Blair
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1 Dec 2010

Ireland's Landscaping Industry is an Economic Lifesaver

Landscaping in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic was "vibrant and vital" to horticulture and the Emerald Isle, said agriculture minister Michelle Gildernew, speaking at the recent annual awards of the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland.

"In spite of the pressure of the recession, the role of the sector in creating useable and uplifting public spaces should not be underestimated," said Gildernew. "There are many challenges, but there is a lot to be positive about."

The overall winner, awarded the Bog Oak trophy, was Peter O'Brien & Sons, which landscaped the Point Village commercial and residential development in Dublin. Portadown-based Clive Richardson won praise for a sports pitch at Croke Park, and Landscape Centre at Ballyclare won plaudits for its walled garden at Bangor Castle.

The awards were presented by Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland chair Steven Thompson.

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Joseph Blair
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